Dr Sadok Besrour Professor of Global Primary Health Care
The University is seeking to appoint the inaugural Dr Sadok Besrour Professor of Global Primary Care, from 1 December 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. This post is a statutory chair and the postholder will also become a Senior Fellow of Green Templeton College.
The post is based in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, one of the world's leading academic departments of primary care, and offers an outstanding opportunity for an internationally distinguished academic and clinical leader to establish and direct the newly created Besrour Centre for Global Primary Care. Supported by a generous endowment from the Fondation Docteur Besrour, the Professorship will provide strategic leadership in advancing research, education, policy engagement and capacity building in global primary care, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.
The Professor will lead the development of an ambitious programme of global primary care research, building international partnerships and collaborations that influence health policy and practice worldwide. The postholder will establish and lead the Besrour Centre's activities, including a global community of practice, scholarship programmes for Besrour Fellows, international forums and conferences, and research and advocacy initiatives that strengthen primary care systems globally. The Professor will be expected to work closely with colleagues across the Medical Sciences Division and the wider University, contributing to Oxford's strategic priorities in global health and health systems strengthening.
The University aims to recruit a medically qualified and internationally outstanding academic leader with an established reputation in global primary care and a proven record of delivering research, education and policy impact at scale. The successful candidate will have an exceptional record of research achievement and external funding, experience of building and leading international collaborations, and a commitment to advancing equitable and sustainable primary health care worldwide. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to work effectively across cultures and health systems, and to engage with governments, international organisations, healthcare providers and academic partners to improve health outcomes and strengthen primary care capacity.
The Professor will be expected to contribute to the Department's research leadership and strategy, play a leading role in the Global Primary Health Care research theme, support the DPhil programme, supervise graduate students, and contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. The postholder will also maintain an honorary clinical contract and contribute to clinical practice in accordance with arrangements agreed with NHS partners and the Department.