Tackling barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in London
PROJECT
ARC ROLE
Honorary Clinical Lecturer, Department of Applied Health Research, UCL
Co-Chair of the Local Authority Public Health Research Network with a focus on developing and building on applied research across London
PROFESSIONAL ROLE
Public Health Consultant, UKHSA London
Director of the NHS Legacy and Health Equity Partnership - focused on closing the equity gap in immunisations, screening and access to health
EXPERTISE AND INTERESTS
Leonora is a Public Health Doctor specialising in Public Health strategy, policy and applied academic research holding senior leadership roles and collaborating across organisations in areas ranging from vaccination, COVID-19 response, health inequalities and child health across the national, regional and local footprint. Nationally, she has held roles in NHS England, Public Health England and the Department of Health. She builds on experience working at the local footprint as a doctor at Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free Hospitals, as a Public Health Doctor for North West London Health Protection Team and as Public health lead for children and young people at Camden and Islington Public Health Team. Regionally she lead on COVID response, prevention and control and COVID-19 vaccination for the London region at Public Health England and the UK Health Security Agency.
Leonora has a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a medical degree from the Royal Free and University College Medical School completing her Academic Foundation Programme at the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience with a focus on adolescent metacognition. She has a Masters in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Leonora has written a book, the 'Quick Reference Guide to Medicine and Surgery' and published in books, academic journals, policy papers, blogs, magazines and national newspapers. She is an advocate for the public engagement of health with experience in giving public talks, lectures, conference key notes, television and radio interviews and presentations, working with schools, patient groups and the third sector and has been a British Science Association Media Fellow.