Professor Rod Thomson

Chair of Congress

Term: 2010-2012, 2012-2014

Email: rod.thomson@rcn.org.uk

Previous RCN appointments:

• Vice Chair of Congress (2006-2010)
• Board Member North West Region (2002-2010)
• Agenda Committee Member (1995-1999)
• Vice Chair Nurses in Commissioning Forum
• Chair of RCN Health Visitors Forum
• Vice Chair RCN Health Visitors Forum
• RCN Long Service Award (2001)
• RCN Fellow (2002)

Rod began his career as a psychiatric student nurse in Glasgow, where his community place stimulated his future career. After training as a general nurse and working as an A&E staff nurse, he trained as a health visitor. Rod's six year spell as a health visitor in the city led him to pursue a career in public health. Moving to the North West England in 1990, he has held a series of senior public health posts in the region.

In addition to his clinical roles, Rod has developed a strong interest in research and development especially with the Centre for Public Health at John Moores University in Liverpool, where he is a Visiting Professor. He has worked as far afield as Cuba and Lithuania, and has presented papers in Japan, Taiwan, Canada, USA and around Europe. He is also a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and Adjunct Faculty Professor at Rush University in Chicago. Rod has numerous publications to his credit on topics including sexual health, substance misuse and public health.

Rod now works as Director of Public Health in Shropshire. He is married and has a son and daughter, and his hobbies include hockey, cycling, hill walking, military history and travel.