Inaugural Lecture by Professor Phil Evans, Health and Community Sciences

Professor Phil Evans is the National Associate Director of Health and Care Research at the NIHR Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDN CC) and a Research Consultant at St Leonards Practice in Exeter.

In his upcoming inaugural lecture, Professor Evans will reflect on his extensive clinical academic career, including over three decades as a GP at St Leonards Practice and his academic work at the University of Exeter. He will explore the vital role of generalist research in primary care, drawing on key studies he has led in areas such as cardiac rehabilitation, the significance of family history, early diagnosis of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, and the foundational concept of relational continuity in patient care.

He will also discuss the pivotal contribution of primary care research during the COVID-19 pandemic and his involvement in the NIHR’s national response. Furthermore, Professor Evans will share insights from his 30 years of leadership in primary care research networks—both in the South-West and nationally—and outline how these networks can continue to drive innovation and excellence in primary care research.