Ruth Boaden

Ruth Boaden is an Honorary Professor at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, and serves as Independent Advisor on Evaluation for the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSCP). Her expertise spans healthcare management, evaluation, and implementation science, with a focus on translating research into practice to improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. She previously led the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) Greater Manchester (2014–2019), overseeing £20m in funding to advance applied health research and service improvements.

Her research interests include quality improvement, health service reconfiguration (e.g., stroke and cancer care), and the impact of policy changes on healthcare delivery. Notable contributions include the development of the Greater Manchester Stroke Assessment Tool (GM-SAT), now widely used in England to improve post-stroke care. She has also evaluated major service reconfigurations, such as acute stroke services in London and Manchester, ensuring evidence-based decisions enhance patient care.

• Teaching: Delivered leadership and quality improvement programs to NHS professionals, including the Leadership through Effective People Management MSc program.
• Grants: Managed multi-million-pound research projects focusing on healthcare system redesign and knowledge mobilisation.
• Labs/Teams: Collaborated with NHS providers, academia, and third-sector partners through CLAHRC and other initiatives to bridge research and practice gaps.

Ruth chairs the Alzheimer’s Society Care, Implementation and Public Health Grants Board and contributes to national bodies like the NICE Implementation Strategy Group. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly improving health and well-being (SDG 3) and fostering partnerships (SDG 17).