Professor L.J. Gunning-Schepers has been appointed University Professor of Health and Society by the Executive Board of the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The appointment is effective from 1 September 2010, along with her new role as chairperson of the Health Council. Louise Gunning is currently chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Academic Medical Center (AMC-UvA) and dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Amsterdam.

Health plays an increasing role in public debate on such issues as lifestyle diseases, the aging population and health care costs. The form and quality of health care and its consequences are frequently the subject of political and strategic discussions. As a University Professor at the UvA, Louise Gunning will apply scientific insights in the field of Social Medicine and in particular Public Health to the current public debate on health issues.

About Louise Gunning

Gunning (1951) obtained her doctorate at the Erasmus University (EUR). She worked as a researcher at the University of Leuven and at the EUR. Gunning also worked as policy advisor for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. In 1991 she was appointed professor of Social Medicine at the University of Amsterdam. From 1995-1997 she was a member of the Scientific Council for Government Policy. From 1997 Gunning was a member of the Board of Directors of the AMC-UvA and vice dean. In 2001 she was appointed Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the AMC-UvA and dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the UvA. The cabinet has appointed Gunning chairperson of the Health Council, the independent scientific advisory body to the government and parliament, as of September 1 2010.

University Professors

The role of the University Professors is to give impetus to scientific developments that transcend traditional disciplines and to make a significant contribution to raising the profile of the university. University Professors are not connected to a particular discipline or faculty. In addition to Louise Gunning, there are five other University Professors at the UvA: Johan van Benthem, Robbert Dijkgraaf, Louise Fresco, Ad Lagendijk and Henk van Os.