Professor Ibrahim Abubakar, an internationally renowned expert in global health, has been announced as UCL’s new Vice-Provost (Health).
In this role Professor Abubakar, currently Pro-Provost (Health) and Dean of Population Health Sciences, will take the lead on developing and implementing UCL’s ’whole-university strategy for health’, which reflects that health research, innovation and education at UCL is no longer confined to traditional biomedical faculties but takes place across the university. Working in partnership across all’of our faculties, the new Vice-Provost (Health) will lead work to embed multi-disciplinary approaches across UCL and with our health partners, and draw together our health strengths to address new opportunities, reinforce existing partnerships, create capacity for new ones and increase our overall influence and impact globally.
Professor Abubakar brings to the role significant global health experience, with leadership experience spanning clinical, academic and public service spheres. His globally focused roles have included membership of the WHO/World Bank Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, Chair of both WHO’s Global Clinical Trial Forum and its Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on TB, and Chair of Lancet Migration. His expertise and advocacy have directly affected policy implementation and, through that, the lives of millions of people internationally, particularly in relation to tuberculosis and Covid 19.
He joined UCL in 2012 as Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and went on to become Director of the Institute of Global Health and Vice-Dean (International and External Engagement) in the Faculty of Population Health Sciences, and became Dean of the Faculty in 2021. In 2023 he took on the additional role of Pro-Provost (Health) alongside his role as Dean and, in this capacity, has been developing UCL’s new strategy for health.
Welcoming his appointment, Dr Michael Spence, President & Provost of UCL, said:
It is really clear that, in order to have the maximum impact, health-related activity needs to be viewed as a university-wide endeavour, bringing together cross-disciplinary expertise and applications. Ibrahim is a highly experienced academic leader with a tremendous track record of activating and implementing long-term impact. I am delighted that we now have a Vice-Provost (Health) of such extensive global expertise and insight to lead this work. "
Professor Abubakar said:
I am honoured to take on the role of Vice-Provost (Health) at UCL. At a time of profound global health challenges and transformative innovation, I look forward to working with colleagues across the university, our NHS partners, and global collaborators to advance world-leading research, education, and impact that improves our national and global health and contribute to economic growth.
Professor Abubakar takes up the role of Vice-Provost (Health) with immediate effect on a part-time basis, increasing to full time over the course of 2025. Information on recruitment to the post of Dean of Population Health Sciences will be available shortly.
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