The Centre for Health Communication Research & Excellence (CHCRE) focuses on the communication challenges and issues within the health sector.
Operating within the
Institute of Applied Leadership, it will seek to achieve national and international recognition for both academic and commercial research, as well as aiming to establish strong relationships within both the public and private sector health organisations.
Performing the role of Director will be John Underwood, appointed an Honorary Professor at Glasgow University in 2006, John is also a Director of Freshwater - one of the UK’s largest regionally-based communications consultancies. Freshwater has a specialist health communication division and offices throughout Britain, and over the past 15 years John has advised a wide range of NHS organisations on complex communication and reputation management issues.
The Deputy Director of CHCRE will be Dr Bill Nichols, senior lecturer in marketing at Buckinghamshire New University. Dr Nichols is a marketing and public relations specialist who has also worked in France, India and the US. Dr Nichols ran his own international communications consultancy before completing a DBA at Henley Business School, where he is also now a visiting lecturer.
Dr Nichols said: “This Research Centre will focus upon a range of issues including engagement and consultation, media coverage of the health service, the challenges surrounding lifestyle health campaigns such as smoking cessation and obesity, and the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and public health systems. I cannot imagine a more challenging time for the healthcare sector than that which now lies ahead.”
CHCRE will undertake academic research, postgraduate level teaching, short courses for health practitioners, and practical/commercial research and communications consultancy.
The Centre will be located at the
High Wycombe Campus of Buckinghamshire New University, within the
Institute of Applied Leadership (INSTAL).