Professor, Sir David Hall

Areas of Interest

Health Care, Education

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Health Science, 2008

Biography

Professor Sir David Hall has a long association with our Faculty of Health and Social Care. He is nationally and internationally recognised for his work on aspects of community child health and is Emeritus Professor of Community Paediatrics at the University of Sheffield, and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Having studied medicine at the University of London, Sir David graduated with a Gold Medal award. From 1978-93, he was a consultant at St George's Hospital, London, after which he joined Sheffield University as Professor of Community Paediatrics, until 2005.

Sir David's interests include child neurological disability, prevention and early identification, service development and NHS research. He has also helped to develop a Masters programme in neurodisability at Sheffield University; progressed education for paediatricians in 'child protection'; provided consultancies on scoliosis and on adolescence for the Department of Health; and, has represented paediatricians on some tough subjects in the media spotlight, including the MMR vaccine and Autism. It is the extent of his work, representing the interests of children, which earned Sir David the honour of his knighthood in 2003.

In 2008, Professor Sir David Hall was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Health.

David has recently retired to South Africa where he holds the appointment of honorary professor of paediatrics at the University of Cape Town and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town. With his wife, who is a public health specialist and also an honorary professor, he is involved with various educational projects in South Africa including Early Literacy and University Access programmes.

Citation

"It is my pleasure to read the Citation for Professor Sir David Hall for the award of Honorary Doctor of Health Science.

Professor Sir David Hall, who has a long association with Anglia Ruskin University's Faculty of Health and Social Care, is nationally and internationally recognised for his work on aspects of community child health.

Emeritus Professor of Community Paediatrics at the University of Sheffield, and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, to name but two important facets to the man, he has spent the past four decades, doing his job most incredibly well. His interest in children's medicine, as evident in his widely acclaimed research, is much more than just professional. It has been his life's mission to greatly improve the health, welfare and future success of the children in his care, and in the care of others, both here in the UK and in South Africa.

Born in 1945 and educated in Reigate, Sir David went onto the University of London to study medicine. He graduated with a Gold Medal award from the University and went onto qualify during 1969, splitting his time training between London and Johannesburg. From 1978-93, he was a consultant at St George's Hospital, London, after which time he joined Sheffield University as Professor of Community Paediatrics, a post he only 'retired' from in 2005.

During his association with the British Paediatric Association which became the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 1996, he chaired four Working Parties on child health surveillance, that resulted in the publication of 'Health for All Children', the fourth edition of which was revised an published recently.

Sir David's interests include child neurological disability, prevention and early identification, service development and NHS research. Within the voluntary sector, he has been involved with a huge range of organisations and campaigns, including Contact a Family, Children's Head Injury Trust, UNICEF, WellChild, WhizzKidz, SCOPE and others far too numerous to mention.

Sir David has a special interest in the Early Years work of SCOPE, the organisation working for those with cerebral palsy. While at St George's he assisted with their assessment service and with the development of a sister organisation in India. Most recently, in his role as Patron, he is involved with specific areas of SCOPE's operations such as research, conductive education, international networking and inclusive practice. He has assisted by raising SCOPE's media profile in the national broadsheets and has given his backing to its campaign 'In the Picture' which aims to increase the representation of disabled children in picture books.

Other activities have seen him helping to develop a Masters programme in neurodisability at Sheffield University; progress education for paediatricians in 'child protection'; help with the National Evaluation of the Sure Start campaign; provide consultancies on scoliosis and on adolescence for the Department of Health; and, as Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town, advise on paediatric training and staffing.

He has also represented paediatricians on some tough subjects in the media spotlight including, the MMR vaccine and Autism; and has publicised worries that doctors increasingly prefer not to get involved with child abuse cases, for fear of possible damage to their careers.

It is the extent of his work, representing the interests of children, which deservingly earned Sir David the honour of his knighthood in 2003. We would like to bestow our very own 'special' honour on our 'good friend' today for his continuing good work.

Professor Sir David Hall, I hereby invite the Vice Chancellor to confer upon you the award of Honorary Doctor of Health Science."