Charles Alessi may just be visiting, but he still hopes to have a disruptive influence as he joins the World Health Innovation Network as its first visiting scholar.

Co-chair of the National Association of Primary Care for the National Health Service Confederation in the U.K., Dr. Alessi is Public Health England’s lead for new models of care and wellness.

“I am honoured to join this highly-respected group of academics as a visiting scholar and to work with Dr. (Anne) Snowdon and the Odette WIN team to foster and develop needed revolutionary and disruptive health system initiatives,” he said. “As the first Canadian health innovation centre with formal ties to the U.S., WIN will build collaborative partnerships between these countries and advance health care systems with an approach that has not been previously done.”

Dean of the Odette School of Business, Allan Conway, said he is delighted with the appointment of the international health systems expert.

“Dr. Alessi’s extensive experience developing the interface between health, business, industry, and government will be invaluable to the network and will contribute significantly to foster and strengthen the work being done to lead the adoption of health system innovation here in Canada and in the U.S.” Dr. Conway said.

Read more about the appointment, including a brief biography of Alessi.