Faculty and administration

Cathy Jackson, BSc(Hons), MBChB, MRCGP, MD, FHEA, DUMC (RCSEd), MSc (Urgent Care), FFRRHH (RCSEd)

Provost

Graduating from Manchester Medical School in 1983, Dr. Cathy Jackson earned a first-class Bachelor of Science in Physiology. Following graduation, she undertook broad training in internal medicine, including neurology, metabolic, respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal medicine, as well as cardiology and general medicine before focusing on remote and rural practice, which remains a central interest in her scholarship.

Professor Jackson entered academia at the University of Dundee, where she developed a clinical communication skills program, published a book in the field, led primary care teaching, and completed a higher research degree on inflammatory airways disease. She was subsequently appointed to her first Professorial Chair at the University of St Andrews, where she created the medical school’s first fully integrated clinical program and served as Director of Clinical Studies and Deputy Director of Teaching.

She later established the medical school at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), introducing the first wholly new UK medical curriculum in over 50 years. Under her leadership, the program grew from an intake of 35 to more than 250 students annually, gained General Medical Council accreditation in 2020, and was commended for innovation. Postgraduate programs achieved recognition and accreditation by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. At UCLan, she went on to serve as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, covering medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical science, optometry, and veterinary medicine. She also served as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health and Campus Development.

Her research focuses on inflammatory airways disease, medical education, and remote and rural health, and she founded England’s National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine. She remains clinically active in urgent care. Outside work, she enjoys fitness, walking with her dog, beekeeping, and gardening.