University Health Board welcomes new independent board member

Professor John Gammon has been appointed to the post of Independent Member (University) for a period of three years with Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Professor Gammon is currently the Deputy Head of the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University, with the specific responsibility for managing strategic developments in relation to engagement, innovation and collaboration with key stakeholders. His research and teaching relates to Healthcare Management, Governance, HR and Infection Prevention and Control.
He has significant experience in higher education, now at University Executive level and has had previous public Board experience, with more recent executive experience in a commercial context. He has considerable experience in working to influence and develop healthcare education and health policy with national and international health governments, and working with international healthcare companies advising on medical devices and associated healthcare products.
Professor Gammon has extensive personal networks, built over a long clinical and academic career, which help inform his thinking, research, teaching and professional behaviour. While a nurse by background, specialising in infection prevention and control, he is passionately committed to the value of interdisciplinary working and in placing the public and patient voice at the heart of health, social care and education. Professor Gammon has provided organisational leadership and change in a number of different contexts and from a University perspective he would wish to champion the need for, and influence the development of, service reconfiguration, changing roles and practice driven healthcare education, which is research based. Furthermore health and social care policies that support coherent, multi-disciplinary approaches to the management of chronic disease and integrated care agendas, utilising the benefits of multi-disciplinary education, knowledge and research intelligence.
University Health Board Chair, Bernardine Rees, OBE, said: “I am delighted to welcome Professor Gammon as a new independent board member. His experience and University links will greatly benefit and support us in developing new roles and competencies appropriate for a modern NHS”.
Professor Gammon said: “My appointment as an Independent Board Member of Hywel Dda comes at a challenging time – a meeting point of a step change in Hywel Dda's own development and influence, a re-imaging of the health and social care provision, and unprecedented change in the health and social care sectors in Wales.
“I look forward to working with the Board in addressing these challenges, shaping responses and developing solutions. I would wish to build upon the positive reputation of Hywel Dda University Heath Board as a proactive organisation and utilise my University experience for further visioning, comment, advice, and research-based information on the education, strategic policy, and the future of the professions whose education is imperative to the further development of the University Health Board.”
Professor Gammon took up his post at the end of July 2014.