Professor William Smith

Biography

MBChB          (University of Aberdeen 1974)                                       

MPH               (University of Dundee 1982)                                                        

MFCM           (Faculty of Community Medicine 1982) 

Thesis: Herd Immunity to Polioviruses. (Awarded Littlejohn Gairdner Prize).                                     

MD                 (University of Aberdeen, 1986)  

Thesis: Evaluation of a Leprosy Control Programme in India

FFPHM          (Elected May, 1989)                                                

PhD                 (University of Dundee, 1990).

Thesis: An Epidemiological Study of Coronary Heart disease and its Risk Factors in Scotland: The Scottish Heart Health Study

FRCP              (Edinburgh, Elected 1992) 

ILTM              Member of the Institute of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (2003)

Hon FFPHM  Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (2004)

Fellow             The Higher Education Academy (2007)

External Memberships

Global health activities focus on chronic diseases, particularly on the chronic mycobacterial disease of leprosy and related neglected tropical diseases. 

Currently on the development and implementation of a global evidence based strategy for leprosy related specifically to reduction in transmission, impairments and disability.  This work is associated with the World Health Organization Global Leprosy Programme, non-governmental organisations and a number of international research consortia.

Chair of the Scientific Committees for the 18th International Leprosy Congress in Brussels, 2013, and the 19^th International Leprosy Congress in Beijing 2016.  Work on dissemination of research through publications, scientific and advocacy meetings.

Research Overview

Public health approach to Global health and chronic disease based on the promotion of excellence in public health policy and practice through leadership, mentoring, standard setting, generating evidence, supervision, governance and advocacy.

Current Research

I have played a significant role in the global elimination of leprosy working with the World Health Organisation and Non-Government Organisations such as the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations and the Leprosy Mission in research and policy development, over 16 million patients have been treated resulting in a 90% reduction in the case- load.  I now work to sustain and enhance leprosy control activities to reduce the burden of disease through research and policy.

Recent Publications:

1.  Smith CS, Noordeen SK, Richardus JH, Sansarricq H, Cole ST, Soares RC, Savioli L, Aerts A.  A strategy to halt leprosy transmission. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2014
2.  Aucott L, Poobalan A, McCallum M, Smith WCS.  Mental Well-Being Related To Lifestyle and Risky Behaviours in 18-25 Year Old: Evidence from North-East Scotland. Int J Public Health Research 2014;4:431-440
3.  Soo M, Robertson LM, Ali T, Clark LE, Fluck N, Johnston M, Marks A, Prescott GJ, Smith WCS, Black C on behalf of the GLOMMS Group.  Approaches to ascertaining co-morbidity information: validation of routine hospital episode data with clinician-based case note review. BMC Research Notes 2014 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-253
4.  Smith WCS. Developing a strategy for cardiovascular disease: surveillance, prevention and health care.  Int J Public Health Research 2014;4:425-430
5.  Smith WCS, Aerts A. Role of contact tracing and prevention strategiesin the interruption of leprosy transmission.  Lepr Rev 2014; 85: 2–17
6. Poobalan AS, Aucott LS, Clarke A, Smith WCS. Diet behaviour among young people in transition to adulthood (18–25 year olds): a mixed method study. Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine: An Open Access Journal, 2:1, 909-928
7. Kurmi OP, Semple S, Devereux GS, Gaihre S, Lam KBH, Sahdra S, Steiner MFC, Simkhada P, Smith WCS, Ayres JG.  The effect of exposure to biomass smoke on respiratory symptoms in adult rural and urban Nepalese populations.  Environmental Health 2014
8. Smith WCS, Aerts A. Contact management is an essential component of leprosy control. Lepr Rev 2015;86:126-127.
9. Smith WCS, van Brakel W, Gillis T, Saunderson P, Richardus JH.  The missing millions: a threat to the elimination of leprosy.  PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2015 9(4):e0003658.doi10.1371/journal

10. Douglas F, van Teijlingen E, Smith C, Moffat M. Implementing Health Policy: Lessons from the Scottish Well Men’s Policy Initiative. AIMS Public Health 2015;2 (4): 887-905

11. Roset-Bahmayer E, Smith WCS, Brennan P, Cummings R, Duthie M, Richardus JH,  Saunderson P, Shwe T, Rosen S. Annemieke Geluk10Leprosy Diagnostic Test Development As a Prerequisite Towards Elimination: Requirements from the User’s Perspective. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 201510(2):e0004331. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004331

12. Smith WCS.  19^th International Leprosy Congress: the plenary sessions. Lepr Rev 2016;87:562-569.

13. Van Veen NHJ, Nicholls PG, Smith WCS, Richardus JH.  Corticosteroids for treating nerve damage in leprosy.  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews  2016 May 23;(5):CD005491. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005491.pub3. Review

14. Smith CS, Aerts A, Kita E, Virmond M. Time to define leprosy elimination as zero leprosy transmission? Lancet Infect Dis. 2016 Apr;16(4):398-9. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(16)00087-6.

15. Richardus JH, Ignotti, Smith WCS.  Epidemiology of leprosy. In International Textbook of Leprosy Ed: David M Scollard and Thomas P Gillis, 2016.

16. Richardus JH, Pahan D, Johnson RC, Smith WCS.  Leprosy Control.  In International Textbook of Leprosy Ed: David M Scollard and Thomas P Gillis, 2016.

17. Smith WCS. 19^th International Leprosy Congress: the Plenary Sessions.  Lepr Rev 2016;87:564-569.

    18. Smith CS, Aerts A, Saunderson P, Kawuma J, Kita E, Virmond M. Multidrug therapy, a game-changer on the path to leprosy elimination. Lancet Infectious Disease 2017: (Accepted)

Collaborations

World Health Organisation, Academic Institutions and Non Governmental Organisations in the field of Global health and Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Teaching Responsibilities

Ad hoc post graduate teaching, examining and supervisory activities related to Global Health, and mentoring of research staff.