Associate Director of Research
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David Woodhead has been our Associate Director of Research since September 2021. He is a research and policy professional with almost 30 years’ experience of working in health and social care. He has a particular interest in understanding systems and group dynamics and issues relating to poverty and inequality, racism, intersectionality, and LGBTQ+ health. He has a strong interest in using group methods – such a world café and open space approaches – to co produce knowledge and co design solutions.
David has worked for world class research organisations, including the UCL Institute of Health Equity, King’s Fund, and Cancer Research UK, to deepen our understanding of health inequalities and how best to tackle them. He has held Head of Service, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director roles in the NHS and local government – in public health, social care, and cultural services – and has also led strategy and policy development for two national regulatory bodies.
David was awarded a PhD in 1998 by London South Bank University. His thesis scrutinised the psychosocial effects of the AIDS pandemic on HIV negative gay and bisexual men. He recently completed the foundation certificate from the Institute of Group Analysis and is a member of a psychodynamic therapy group that meets twice weekly. His first degree, from Queen Mary, University of London, was in French and social sciences.
His work is grounded in his experiences of poor mental health and recovery. He writes blogs, poems, and essays, and was a columnist for the Health Service Journal for 5 years. David is Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Medical Humanities, Durham University, and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Integrated Care.
