Appointments

Professor Rami Abboud
Personal Chair of Education in Biomechanics
Rami Abboud graduated in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Beirut in 1988. He continued his postgraduate studies and obtained MSc and PhD in Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering at the University of Dundee in 1989 and 1995 respectively. He was appointed as a Research Assistant in 1993 and was subsequently promoted to Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery in 1996 and 2002 respectively. Professor Abboud currently holds the posts of Deputy Head of Division of Surgery & Oncology, Director of the Institute of Motion Analysis & Research, and Course Director of the Master of Orthopaedic Surgery (MCh Orth).

Professor Abboud is the Convener of the University Postgraduate Affairs Taught Sub-Committee and the Chairman of the College Undergraduate Intercalated Honours Degree. He has been an elected member of the University Senate since 1996 and was elected by the Academic Council to the University Court in 2004.

The research programme that Professor Abboud established on Biomechanics and Motion Analysis led in 1993 to the foundation of the Foot Pressure Analysis Lab/Clinic and subsequently in 2003 to the Institute of Motion Analysis & Research (IMAR) taking the leading role as founder and director.

Professor Abboud is a member of the Editorial Committee of the International Foot Journal, the first non-clinician elected to the Scientific Sub-Committee of the British Foot and Ankle Surgery Society (BFOAS) and an international member of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the foreign member for the Editorial Committee of the Chinese Journal of Scientific Instrument and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Professor Julie Taylor
Personal Chair of Family Health
Julie Taylor is Professor of Family Health in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. She has held the post of Research Dean there for the last two years. In 2001 she became Director of Postgraduate Studies, establishing the School's first PhD and Masters courses, on which there are now over 200 students.

Before coming to Dundee 10 years ago, Julie was charge nurse on a neurosurgical ward in Leeds and then programme leader at the University of York.

Funded research has been focused around optimal service delivery conditions for child care and protection practice, including 'good enough' parenting debates. Recent publications have focused on the smacking controversy, abuse of children in hospital, and child neglect. With Brigid Daniel, she is co-author of 'Engaging with Fathers: Practice Issues for Health and Social Care' and co-editor of 'Neglect: Issues for Health and Social Care'.

She is a Fellow of the European Academy of Nursing Science, founding member of the international Child Welfare and Gender Network, and a founding member of the Scottish Child Care and Protection Network. Current and future research plans are centred on furthering work on the psychosocial and welfare needs of children with albinism in southern Africa.

Professor Sara Marshall
Chair of Clinical Immunology
Division of Pathology & Neuroscience
Originally from Singapore, Sara Marshall qualified in medicine in Dublin in 1987. She completed her basic clinical training in Dublin and subsequently did fellowships in heart and lung transplantation (Stanford, California), and in bone marrow transplantation (London).

Inspired by advances in new treatments, but realising the extent of the gulf between the science of immunology and its application to clinical medicine, Sara completed a PhD in Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Herman Waldmann, and then moved to Oxford to complete her clinical training.

In 1998 she was awarded a Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Fellowship to study genetic factors that determine immune responses in health and disease. Prior to moving to Dundee, she was a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College, which fostered a parallel, but equally challenging, interest in how to make pathology interesting to medical students.

Dr Jonathon Weyers
Director of Quality Assurance
Dr Weyers has worked at the University for 28 years, with previous roles as a senior lecturer in Biological Sciences and Life Sciences, followed by spells as Director of the Life Sciences Teaching Unit, Director of the Learning Enhancement Unit, and latterly Director of Academic Skills within the Library and Learning Centre. He has published widely, including several books on practical skills in the sciences, and The Smarter Student, a text covering skills and strategies for success at university. Jonathan has been associated with many teaching-related developments such as e-learning and PDP. He has won the Honorary Graduates' Innovative Teaching award twice and has organised and contributed to staff development sessions on a wide variety of topics.

"The QA role offers an exciting challenge, especially in light of the reorganisation into colleges, the sustainability review and the new Vision: towards 2012 development plan. All of these initiatives have quality of teaching as an important aspect," he said.

"I'm looking forward to working with college staff as they formulate their learning and teaching plans and integrate academic standards procedures alongside the new college management structures, and with the DUSA executive to take account of the student viewpoint."

One of Dr Weyer's first jobs will be to review the University's QA procedures. He would be grateful for any comments from staff. Call 384258 or email j.d.b.weyers@dundee.ac.uk to contact him.

Professor Ruth Freeman
Chair of Public Dental Health
Dental Health Services Research Unit
Prior to her appointment to the Chair Professor Freeman worked at University College, London and was Professor of Dental Public Health at Queen's University, Belfast. She has experience of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and has authored over 100 papers, written three books and edited two others. Her research interests include theoretical and practical dimensions of oral health and health disparities, evidence-based research to support oral health promotion interventions and access to oral health care for the socially excluded.

The Chair of Dental Public Health Research is a joint appointment between the University and NHS Highland.

The appointment will provide the environment for the integration of oral health policy and strategy to promote oral health and health in the remote and rural communities in Highland and beyond allowing Professor Freeman to realize her current and future research goals as well as operationalizing World Health Organization programmes such as the 'Primary Health Care Approach' and 'The Ottawa Charter'.