CSR360

Dr Adshead was the Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health for England and the Chief Government Adviser on Health Inequalities.  She led the Secretary of State’s review on health inequalities bringing together evidence from national and international sources to step-up government action.

Until January 2008 Dr Adshead was the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Director General for the Health Improvement Directorate in the Department of Health for England.  She led the development of national policy and programmes in key public health areas and worked with colleagues across government on developing healthy public policy.  Specific areas under Dr Adshead’s leadership included: tackling inequalities in health, addressing the social determinants of health, the prevention of cancer and heart disease, tobacco control, substance misuse, sexual health and nutrition.

Dr Adshead had an extensive international portfolio and close links with the WHO and the European Commission.  Through this work, she was able to bring learning into England and to export expertise.

Dr Adshead interest in sharing good practice and developing the evidence for health improvement is also reflected in her extensive list of publications and she is regularly invited to speak at national and international events.

As a former Director of Public Health, Dr Adshead has extensive experience of working in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders to develop and deliver programmes, which drive forward the public health agenda, improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities.

Dr Adshead has a strong commitment to addressing inequalities in health.  A key interest of hers is developing evidence and understanding of individual behaviour change processes in the context of the wider environments in which people live. 

Dr Adshead is a visiting Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.