Professor John Connell

HIS YEAR: Professor Connell was appointed chairman of NHS Tayside’s board in October 2015 and has a distinguished record of leadership in the health service and university sector, with clinical and research interests in hormone disorders and high blood pressure. Prof Connell was dean of the School of Medicine at Dundee University from 2009-12, then head of the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing and vice-principal for research from 201215. During this period, he led the medical school through a restructuring programme and major refurbishment to sustain its reputation among the best schools in the UK for the quality of its teaching, reputation of its clinical training and translational clinical science. He initiated the development of an academic health sciences partnership between the university and NHS Tayside which now has a strong portfolio of innovation, quality improvement and education. He is also chairman of Tenovus Tayside, which has raised more than £734,000 to support research projects. PANEL VIEW: His high profile over the last 12 months, from supporting Tayside’s carers and the Macmillan Cancer Support Move More campaign to setting an example to all over-60s by receiving his flu jab in front of the cameras, proves Prof Connell has the interests of Courier Country’s community at heart. He has effectively headed up the largest overhaul of health services in Tayside since the 1940s.