Jessica Corner takes the reins at Southampton

The University of Southampton has appointed Professor Jessica Corner as head of its new School of Health Sciences.

Professor Corner said: 'I am delighted to be taking on this new role. It is an exciting time for health care in the UK and internationally as we look to address future challenges of people more actively managing their own health, while also needing to provide radically different support to people with long-term health conditions.

'The new school will be developing a cadre of health professionals who are equipped to address these challenges as well as developing new knowledge through research that contributes to international debate in healthcare.'

The new school brings together three of the university's key healthcare divisions from autumn 2008, with Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery, and the Health Care Innovation Unit merging to focus on healthcare education, research and enterprise.