Acting Head of School of Healthcare Sciences
26 January 2018
Professor David Whitaker has been appointed Acting Head of the School of Healthcare Sciences where he will oversee all of the School’s activities as it looks to build on its excellence in learning, teaching and research.
Currently Professor of Optometry and Deputy Head of School in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Professor Whitaker will formally take up the position from 1 March when the current Head of School, Professor Heather Waterman, retires.
Professor Whitaker said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining such a prestigious School, and look forward to supporting each of the professional disciplines within Healthcare Sciences to promote excellence in teaching, scholarship and research.”
A registered optometrist and active teacher and researcher, Professor Whitaker’s external roles include Senior Vice President of the Association of Optometrists and panel member and chair for the programme accreditation panel of the General Optical Council. His research interests fall within the field of visual and temporal perception and his recent publications include papers in leading international journals including Proceedings of the National Academy USA, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, the Journal of Vision, and Experimental Brain Research.
Professor Gary Baxter, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, said: “I look forward very much to working with David in his new role and am confident that his breadth of experience and wisdom as a teacher, researcher and leader in his healthcare profession will ensure that the School of Healthcare Sciences continues to thrive.”