Andrew James Williams BMedSci MPH

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Telephone: +44 (0)1392 726028 / +44(0)1392 264998 

Having originally intended to become a medical doctor I began studying as part of the second intake to the Peninsula Medical School. Throughout, my studies I came to the understanding that I would not find a career as a medical doctor satisfying and therefore when the opportunity arose I took the Bachelor in Medical Science. I then returned to the place of my birth Bulawayo, Zimbabwe for the first time. In the two and a half months I spent in Bulawayo I volunteered in medical facilities and witnessed firsthand the HIV/AIDS epidemic and related medical conditions. 

When I returned to the UK I worked at First Databank Europe Ltd. writing data for the Multilex Drug Data File. During this time I realised that medical school had developed my statistical knowledge and produced a keen interest in public health and research. I then enrolled on the Masters of Public Health at the University of Birmingham. 

On the course I took optional modules in Public Health Microbiology, Advanced Statistical Methods, Advanced Applied Epidemiology and Health Economics. For my dissertation I worked with the British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study analysing their cohort for the risk of diabetes mellitus. I passed the Master of Public Health with merit. This experience fed my interest in research which led me to apply for a PhD. Recognising the growing obesity problem and the potential for schools to have an influence I was delighted to be offered and accept this PhD with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry.

Following submission of my PhD thesis I have been pleased to accept a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Edinburgh with the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (https://www.scphrp.ac.uk).