
Dr Jennifer Dixon joined the Health Foundation as Chief Executive in October 2013.
Jennifer was Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust from 2008 to 2013. Prior to this, she was Director of Policy at The King’s Fund and was the policy advisor to the Chief Executive of the National Health Service between 1998 and 2000. Jennifer has undertaken research and written widely on health care reform both in the UK and internationally.
Originally trained in medicine, Jennifer practised mainly paediatric medicine, prior to a career in policy analysis. She has a Master’s in public health and a PhD in health services research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In 1990–91, Jennifer was a Harkness Fellow in New York.
Jennifer was appointed as a non-executive board member of the UK Health Security Agency in April 2022. She has served as a Board member of the Health Care Commission 2004–2009; the Audit Commission 2003–2012; and the Care Quality Commission 2013–2016. She has led two national inquiries for government: on the setting up of published ratings of quality of NHS and social care providers in England (2013); and on the setting up of ratings for general practices (2015). She was also a member of the Parliamentary Review Panel for the Welsh Assembly Government advising on the future strategy for the NHS and social care in Wales (2017–2018).
In 2009, Jennifer was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and in 2019 was elected as a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. She was awarded a CBE for services to public health in 2013, and a Doctor of Science from Bristol University in 2016. She has held visiting professorships at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the London School of Economics, and Imperial College Business School.
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'Deaths of despair': a tale of two countries
Episode 4. Why is life expectancy stalling more in the US and UK compared to other OECD countries?
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The Health Foundation podcast
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The year ahead: what and why
Our chief executive takes us on a quick tour of the work the Health Foundation has planned in 2022...
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The challenges in Sajid Javid’s in-tray as health secretary
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Podcast
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Podcast
'Deaths of despair': a tale of two countries
Episode 4. Why is life expectancy stalling more in the US and UK compared to other OECD countries?
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America hurts
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Episode 3. What is the long-term path for the NHS when the emergency phase of COVID is over?
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Podcast
How to be health secretary - Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP and Nick Timmins
Episode 1. What is the role of the health secretary? What are the lessons learnt from COVID-19?
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Political priorities for health: autumn party conferences provide few insights
Dr Jennifer Dixon reflects on an unusual party conference season and asks what we can glean from the...
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We can shape the future
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Newsletter blog
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News
Health Foundation statement on racial inequalities in health and health care
A statement from the Chief Executive and directors of the Health Foundation on racial inequalities...
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Press release
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Newsletter blog
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Blog
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Newsletter blog
COVID-19: how the Health Foundation is responding
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Blog
The evidence is clear and the solutions are there – what is needed is the will to act
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Cummings, cognitive bias, and the NHS
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Newsletter blog
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Blog
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Blog
If major reform of the NHS is on the horizon, can we fly less blind to its impact this time?
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Working paper
'Hospital mergers increase death and harm'? Not so fast…
This paper examines the claims made in the CMA working paper on the impact of hospital competition...
Blog
How are the political promises for health and social care stacking up?
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Blog
Should we bother about the future? If so, how much?
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Blog
Reducing emergency admissions from care homes: a measure of success for the NHS Long Term Plan?
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Blog
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Report
Shaping Health Futures
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Newsletter blog
Ambitious futures
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Blog
Mind and body: inseparable twins
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Journal article
Productivity in the NHS
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Blog
The NHS long term plan: Suggestions for framing the way ahead
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Blog
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Joint letter to the Prime Minister on NHS funding
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