About
Peter Howitt is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery & Cancer at Imperial College London's Faculty of Medicine. He serves as Managing Director for the Centre for Health Policy and the Climate Cares Centre at the Institute for Global Health Innovation (IGHI), while also providing managerial support for the NIHR North West London Patient Safety Research Collaboration and leading the Policy workstream of the Fleming Initiative.
Currently on secondment from the Department of Health and Social Care, where he previously served as Director of PPE Policy and Strategy and Covid-19 Incident Director, Howitt brings over 20 years of extensive experience in health policy development. Before his roles at the national level, he was a Director in the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System.
- Education: Not explicitly stated in the provided text
Howitt's research focuses on critical areas of modern healthcare policy including Climate Change and Mental Health Policy, Health Equity Policy, Digital Healthcare Policy, Patient Safety Policy, Antimicrobial Resistance Policy, and Communication and Health Policy. His work demonstrates a comprehensive approach to addressing contemporary healthcare challenges through evidence-based policy development and practical implementation strategies.
His publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational healthcare strategy development to addressing cutting-edge issues like digital health data utilization and climate-related health policy concerns. Howitt's research consistently bridges theoretical policy frameworks with practical implementation challenges in healthcare systems, with notable impact as evidenced by his highly cited 2014 Health Affairs article on patient engagement which garnered 126 total citations.
As an educator, Howitt established and continues to teach the Communication and Health Policy module in Imperial's MSc in Health Policy program. His teaching reflects his extensive practical experience in health policy implementation and his commitment to developing future healthcare leaders who can effectively translate research into policy impact.
Through his active involvement in multiple collaborative initiatives including the Centre for Health Policy, Climate Cares Centre, NIHR North West London Patient Safety Research Collaboration, and the Fleming Initiative, Howitt demonstrates his dedication to advancing healthcare policy both in the UK and internationally.
