E36 - Professor Yvonne Doyle - Building authentic leadership styles and navigating chaos

Episode 4 of our special series in partnership with the Faculty of Public Health where we explore one key question - What is Public Health?

It may seem like a simple question, but Public Health is no single thing. The aim of the series is to shine a light on the breadth of Public Health and the challenges ahead by talking to key figures in the field.

This episode we sat down with Professor Yvonne Doyle. Yvonne is a medical doctor by background with over 30 years experience in public health and has worked across a range of senior leadership roles across the NHS, Department of Health, UKHSA and academia. 

Between 2013 and 2019 she was appointed Director of Public Health for London and was the Statutory Health Advisor to two London Mayors. In 2016 she was awarded a CB for her contribution to improving public health. 

In 2019 she was appointed as the medical director and Director of Health Protection for Public Health England and played a pivotal role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 she was appointed as the first NHS medical director for public health. And in April last year she partially retired but has maintained an active role in public health across the system. 

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Teaser and introduction

(03:41) Yvonne's career

(06:25) What is Public Health?

(08:03) Local-regional-national public health leadership

(10:27) The importance of DPHs in the public health system

(12:53) Developing public health leadership skills

(14:34) Values driving leadership

(17:11) Integrity in public health leadership

(19:05) Leading during chaos

(22:54) Communication skills in public health

(28:13) Social-media and public health

(30:42) Public health challenges ahead

(34:30) System integration in public health

(37:18) Public health system design

(41:42) Advocating for better systems integration in public health

(42:52) One career tip and end