Healthcare and Academic Medicine

Clinical academic appointments in medicine, health, and social care act as critical positions of influence across higher education and healthcare institutions. In seeking to tackle major health challenges at a local, national and global level, clinical academics must work at the nexus of research, clinical engagement and impact.

Perrett Laver is one of leading firms advising worldwide upon senior appointments within academic medicine.

We have one of most extensive records of advising upon the appointments of CEOs, Deans, Chairs of Department, Institute Directors and Research professors within the widest array of academic medicine and health science disciplines. Our international reach is unparalleled.

Where We Can help

Academic Leadership

As a firm, we have partnered with clients globally on the appointment of over 2,000 Senior Academics from Senior Management teams, including Deans of Faculty, Heads of School, and Directors of Institute. Senior leaders in academic medicine, from Heads of Department to Vice-Presidents, must balance a diverse set of needs and stakeholders. Higher Education Institutions around the world seek leaders who are able to drive personal and institutional research strategies, while simultaneously playing a crucial role in the education strategy for their institution. In addition, clinical academic leaders must also act as leaders of clinical excellence in their field, forging connections and collaborations with healthcare providers locally, nationally, and globally. The complexity, demand, and diversity of such roles are not to be underestimated.

With clients in 50 countries, and experience working with over half of the top 200 universities in the world, we at Perrett Laver have an unparalleled understanding of academic medicine globally, such that we are able to provide our clients with at once a global outlook, while remaining sensitive to our clients’ local health system and the impact this may have on an incoming appointee.

Health Research Institute Directors

With leading practices in healthcare, research and higher education, we are uniquely placed to support health research institutes in their recruitment of Directors, Chairs, and senior leaders. As these institutes seek to address the global challenges facing medicine and healthcare, their appointees must be able to lead in research and clinical environments, as well as communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders across sectors, organisations, and traditional academic boundaries.

Clinical Department Chairs

Our in-depth understanding of research excellence in clinical sciences is vital to the successful search for global academic talent on behalf of our clients. Of the over-200 faculty-level appointments conducted by Perrett Laver annually, one third are conducted in the health and life sciences disciplines. Ranging from Chairs in applied health and professional practice, to clinical trials, to medicine and biosciences, our extensive track record in health and medical faculties has led to an extensive network and in-depth database of academic talent, which we are able to employ to the benefit of our clients. 

Academic Health Systems

Organisational structures that comprise an academic health system are varied and complex making the need for excellent Boards, Chief Executives and Senior Executives increasingly vital to the success of these organisations. Perrett Laver understands the importance of having this focus on translation between research, clinical services, education and training and feel that they directly lead to clinical benefits for patients.

Bringing together organisations engaged in education, clinical research, informatics, innovation, training, and healthcare delivery, academic health systems offer a real opportunity to improve patient health and care through innovation and knowledge exchange, and consequently to generate wealth for the local health economy.

Working at the interface between health and social care and academia we are well placed to understand the profiles, values and motivations required by these organisations in their leaders.

Who to talk to

Recent Academic Medicine and Health Sciences clients

Recent Academic Medicine and Health Sciences Appointments

A WAKE-UP CALL: Cross-Sectoral Diversity and Board Room Equality

In March 2023, Perrett Laver and the Berlin Research 50 (BR50) joined forces and launched their cooperation at EMST Berlin, led by Dr. Nicole Shea, our Managing Partner for Germany, and Dr. Anja Sommerfeld, BR50. Chaired by Alexander S. Wolf, CEO of Stiftung AusserGewöhnlich Berlin, the panel comprised of Jutta Allmendinger, President of Wissenschaftszentrum Berlinfür Sozialforschung (WZB), Ole Bækhøj, Director of the Pierre Boulez Saal, Sabine Kunst, Chair of the Board of the Joachim Herz Stiftung and Maike Sander, Scientific Director and Chair of the Board of the Max Delbrück Center discussed the importance of networking and mentoring to push diversity and equality initiatives in the workplace.  The long-term goal of the program is to overcome gender inequality in terms of salaries and to support women in reaching leadership positions. The program addresses aspiring and experienced female scientists…

Announcing new members of our leadership team

After an extensive global search, Rushda Majeed has been appointed Chief Programme Officer of the Bernard van Leer Foundation. In this role, she will oversee our programmes worldwide. Rushda joins Neil van der Meer who was appointed Chief Financial Officer at the beginning of this year. Rushda MajeedRushda has been with the Foundation since 2017 as the Foundation’s India Representative. In this role, she greatly expanded the impact of our work in India through an innovative series of partnerships at the intersection of urban development, public health and early childhood development. Prior to Van Leer, Rushda worked across a diverse range…

Maarten IJzerman new dean of Erasmus School of Health Policy

The Executive Board of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor M.J. (Maarten) IJzerman (1969) as dean of the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). He will hold the position as of 1 May 2022. This position is currently held by Prof. Werner Brouwer. Maarten IJzerman has been Professor and Director at Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne in Australia since 2018. The future of healthcareBoth the advisory committee and the Faculty Council are pleased with the appointment. There is great trust in IJzerman. Stefan Sleijfer, President of…

Perrett Laver appoints six new Partners

Perrett Laver has kicked off the year with six Partner promotions. All are expert at connecting influential organisations with dynamic leaders in their respective sectors. The new Partners are: Natasha Zoltie, Partner, Climate, Environment and Conservation â€“ leading our work in climate, sustainability and conservation, Natasha supports organisations globally as they work to solve the single biggest challenge facing society today. With eight years’ experience at Perrett Laver, Natasha was seconded to Clean Air Fund in 2020. Shivani Smith, Partner, UK Non-Profits â€“ having worked in, and, with the non-profit sector for over 20 years and Shivani has extensive experience of governance, fundraising, research,…