UCLan announces senior clinical appointment

The University of Central Lancashire has appointed Professor StJohn Crean as pro vice-chancellor (clinical).

Professor Crean will be responsible for building productive networks and relationships with key stakeholders in order to ensure that the university is able to implement new and innovative opportunities in clinical health business, education and research.

Deputy vice-chancellor Dr Lynne Livesey said: “StJohn will bring extensive experience, expertise and leadership qualities to this important role having overseen the development of our clinical programmes in both medicine and dentistry where our students benefit from purpose built facilities that are amongst the most modern and high-tech in Europe.”

Commenting on his new role Professor Crean added: “I delighted to accept this exciting new position. By building on the phenomenal success and great reputation of our medical, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy programmes, the university is set to play a major role in reducing health inequalities and enabling an integrated approach to health and care provision across the North West.”

Prior to accepting his new role, Professor Crean served within the university as executive dean of the Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences and previously held the roles of director of dental research and knowledge transfer, and dean of the School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education.

Beyond the University, StJohn is an honorary consultant at Blackpool Victoria Hospitals Trust and the University of Morecambe Bay Hospitals Foundation Trust. He is currently the Robert Bradlaw advisor in the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and editor-in-chief of the Faculty Dental Journal (FDJ). In addition he holds the posts of president of the Northwest Branch of the British Dental Association and chairman of the Fylde Section. His research interests include the safe management of medicalised patients in dentistry and the role of oral bacteria in systemic disease, with a focus on neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.