Dr Anna Lowe, a chartered physiotherapist and specialist in physical activity and healthy ageing, has been promoted to director, following three years as programme manager of the centre.
The appointment comes as Professor Rob Copeland and Sir Andrew Cash move on after 10 years at the helm of the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine in Sheffield. The centre was established with Department for Health funding following the London 2012 Olympic Games, with one of its three hubs located in Sheffield.
Dr Anna Lowe said: “I am delighted to be director of the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine. This partnership is an Olympic legacy initiative that brings 14 partner organisations together with the aim of making Sheffield a more active city. In my new role as director, I will be overseeing the co-location of NHS services at three community leisure centres, leading Sheffield’s whole systems approach to increasing physical activity and contributing to related research projects. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and delighted to be working with such great partner organisations across Sheffield.”
The NCSEM is a collaboration between universities, healthcare trusts, local authorities and private and voluntary sector organisations. It is focused on developing a better understanding of the mechanisms of action underlying human movement to improve population health.
Anna is well placed to drive the agenda of tackling inactivity across the health and care system, having worked in the NHS for many years as a physiotherapist. She developed an interest in physical activity through her doctoral study and secondments with NHS England and Public Health England.
