We are pleased to welcome Professor Joht Singh Chandan, who joins the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences as Professor of Public Health, in association with a Governing Body Fellowship at Wolfson College, from 1 July.
Professor Chandan is an NIHR Research Professor and internationally recognised public health clinician scientist whose work focuses on tackling health inequalities through data driven, system level approaches. His research spans violence against women and children, trauma informed care, maternity inequalities, and population health improvement, with a particular emphasis on underserved and marginalised communities.
He joins from the University of Birmingham, where he is Clinical Professor of Public Health and Health Inequalities Lead at Birmingham Health Partners. He leads major national and international programmes in this area, including the NIHR Maternity Disparities Challenge and the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Violence Against Women and Children. He also plays an active role in shaping policy, including contributions to the UK Government’s National Youth Strategy and serving as an expert advisor to the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. His work aligns closely with the UK Women’s Health Strategy and global efforts to better quantify and respond to the health impacts of violence. Alongside his academic work, he currently serves as a Special Detective Constable with West Midlands Police, bringing a unique perspective that bridges public health, policing, and community systems.
His research programme brings together large scale linked data from healthcare, social care, and justice systems to better understand patterns of risk, service use, and outcomes. This work is designed not only to generate new knowledge, but to directly inform policy and redesign services to improve equity and population health.
Professor Chandan currently oversees extensive research funding and has published extensively in leading journals, with work that has shaped both clinical practice and national policy. He studied medicine at University College London and completed his PhD in Public Health at the University of Birmingham. He was appointed Clinical Professor at the age of 32 in 2024, becoming the youngest Clinical Professor in the UK.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Chandan, said:
‘I am thrilled to be joining the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at Oxford. It brings together world leading expertise in data science, primary care, and health systems research, alongside a strong commitment to improving population health.
My work has focused on understanding and addressing some of the most complex drivers of health inequality, particularly violence, trauma, and marginalisation. I am especially excited by the opportunity to work collaboratively to translate this evidence into real world impact, helping to shape services, policy, and outcomes at scale for underserved populations.’
Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh, Head of Department, said:
‘We are delighted to welcome Joht to the Department. He brings an exceptional track record in advancing research on health inequalities, with clear impact on policy and practice. His work strongly complements our priorities, and we look forward to the contributions he will make to
teaching, research and advocacy to improve outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged populations across the UK and internationally.’
Sir Tim Hitchens, President of Wolfson College, said:
'I am delighted at this appointment. Joht brings a world of experience, and a zest for life, which will be a real tonic for Oxford. We look forward to welcoming him warmly.'