Meet the Senior Members of the Society: Emeritus Professor Simon Capewell
Name:
Simon Capewell
Position:
Emeritus Professor
Department of Public Health, Policy & Systems
University of Liverpool
SSM Member since 1995 (Annual Conference at Royal Holloway)
SSM committee roles (current or past):
SSM Committee member since 2012
President Jan 2014 to Dec 2015
Chair of Annual Scientific Conference 2021
Mentor Training Officer since about 2018
Topics of interest:
Prevention, Policy, Public Health
How did your career in social medicine/population health begin?
A steady transition from chest physician via a Public Health Masters degree to academic research, teaching and then policy activism.
What is your research area, and what excites you most about it?
Using computer models to quantify the potential benefits of healthy food and tobacco policies.
How has SSM influenced your career journey, and what have you gotten out of being an SSM member?
SSM has always provided a wonderfully supportive and encouraging setting for presenting my research and networking with old and new friends.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in social medicine/population health?
In no particular order:
Follow your interests; Get an SSM mentor; Network continuously; Collaborate enthusiastically; “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” (Emerson).
What have you gained most from the SSM Mentoring Scheme, either as a mentor or a mentee?
My mentors helped me survive and grow as a person and as a professional.
I have greatly enjoyed mentoring a wide variety of younger (and older) colleagues.
Tell us a (fun) fact about yourself that is unrelated to your career.
Born on a farm, I was taught at a young age to recognize bullshit at 500 yards.
***************************************************************************************************
This is the first blog in our new monthly blog series focusing on the Society’s mid-career and senior members. This new series will spotlight prominent and active members of SSM to inspire the wider community and highlight the value of membership by inviting members to reflect on their time in the Society.