Clinical academic reflects on her public health career to mark International Women’s Day

A journey of transformation

Professor Elizabeth Orton pursued a career in hearing research for 15 years, before she retrained in public health in 2008, all while balancing the challenges of raising a young family.

Nearly two decades later, she now plays a pivotal role in improving public health services, serving as a Consultant in Public Health for Leicestershire County Council and as the Theme Lead for Building Community Resilience and Enabling Independence at NIHR ARC East Midlands.

The role of mentorship

Professor Orton credits much of her success to the invaluable guidance and support of her female mentors, Professors Carole Hackney and Denise Kendrick and Dr Corinne Camilleri-Ferrante. 

Their encouragement and wisdom not only helped her navigate the challenges of her career but also empowered her to advance professionally and personally.

“True inspiration comes from those who remove obstacles rather than create them, and I’ve been fortunate to encounter such individuals throughout my journey,” Professor Orton reflected.

Fostering the next generation

Now, as a mentor herself, she is dedicated to fostering the next generation of women researchers. 

Professor Orton encourages them to pursue careers that align with their passions and strengths while breaking barriers and maintaining a balance that reflects their personal aspirations.

She said: “Public health is so varied, I recommend picking an area that really gets you excited and out of bed in the morning, that the thing that will get you through.

“Be fully present in whatever you’re doing at that moment. When you're at home with your family, focus on them and set work aside. Likewise, when you're at work, give it your full attention. Avoid stretching yourself too thin by juggling too many responsibilities at once.”

She continued: “It is important to make choices that align with your personal values, circumstances and financial situation. 

“I fully support women who decide to stay home with their children or work part-time – ultimately, you have to do what feels right for you.”

Advancing public health research

Professor Orton is also a Professor of Public Health at the University of Nottingham and an Academic Lead for the newly NIHR-funded Health Determinants Research Collaboration in Leicestershire – a network aiming to improve community health and wellbeing by using research to support evidence-based decision making.

Her commissioning experience was the inspiration for the FaME Implementation Toolkit, which supports the implementation of a programme (FaME) to prevent falls and increase physical activity in older adults and was part of Professor Pip Logan’s study that developed the Action Falls Toolkit, which provides guidance and resources for care home managers, commissioners, healthcare professionals and stakeholders to understand, prevent and manage falls effectively.

In the future, Professor Orton hopes to see public health research grow into a more prominent specialty in the East Midlands. 

She stated: “Public health and local government complement each other immensely, and we must expand the number of academics that also work in public health practice. 

“I would love to see more opportunities for joint careers spanning local government, public health and academia, as such pathways are currently very limited.”

Encouraging future researchers

To encourage the next generation of researchers, the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with ARC East Midlands, has secured funding for two Master’s in Research studentships in Medicine and Health. These fully funded opportunities will begin in Autumn 2025. Interested applicants can apply here. 

ARC East Midlands also announced an open, competitive call for PhD funding. Proposed PhDs should complement the ARC’s portfolio of applied research and address NHS England priorities, including hospital to community, analogue to digital and treatment to prevention. To apply, click here. 

Celebrating women’s contributions

Reflecting on International Women’s Day, she said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to highlight the contributions of women.”

“Women are often in supportive roles rather than leadership positions, which can lead to their work being overlooked.”

She concluded: “That’s why it’s so important to celebrate women’s achievements and bring recognition to those that might otherwise go unnoticed.”

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.