Renowned Shropshire-based professor to join University Centre Shrewsbury academic team
News from our partners University Centre Shrewsbury
A Shropshire-based professor who has helped to create county services to improve health and chairs an international council on the prevention of heart disease will be leading courses in Sports Medicine, Health and Exercise Science at University Centre Shrewsbury.
John Buckley will lecture and head up research in these areas from September 2015, after contributing to the development of the University Centre curriculum for more than a year. Prof Buckley will be based in the Institute of Medicine, which delivers programmes working closely with clinical colleagues.
Prof Buckley’s specialism in exercise for cardiac patients started in Shropshire, where he was a founding and managing partner of the Lifestyle Fitness and Physiotherapy Centre at Radbrook Green in Shrewsbury for 21 years (1988 to 2009).
Through the centre, he was one of the architects of Shropshire’s Exercise Referral Scheme, working with a team from the county’s health authority, GPs and doctors from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals. Alongside his partners, Christine Jennings and Alan Leigh, he also designed and managed the Exercise for Health and Rehabilitation Centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and provided physiotherapy at four Shrewsbury GP practices.
The Professor of Applied Exercise Science, who has lived in the Shrewsbury area for almost 30 years, has lectured and led programmes at the School of Physiotherapy at Oswestry, Keele University and the University of Chester.
In 2012 Prof Buckley was appointed founding Chair of the International Council for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR). The ICCPR is an associate international group of the World Heart Federation linked with the World Health Organisation. The council represents 24 countries from six continents. The group has published an International Charter on the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease.
Prof Buckley was also the President of the British Association for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation between 2009 and 2011, and held the position of Exercise Physiologist at the national McArdle Neuromuscular Disease Clinic, now based at University College Hospital London, from 1999 to 2013.
Prof Buckley, originally from Canada, is also widely published and recognised for his research highlighting, in particular, the benefits of changing office environments to promote standing and movement.
He has travelled the world to teach, present his research and collaborate with healthcare professionals and doctors at medical conferences. His itinerary has included the USA, India, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
Prof Buckley’s work has been featured on primetime BBC TV, where he has contributed to and presented health and medical programmes.
Prof Buckley said:
“I am extremely excited about joining the University Centre Shrewsbury academic team as a Professor of Applied Exercise Science.
I’m looking forward to delivering Sports, Exercise and Health courses from September 2015, and after running an Exercise and Physiotherapy business in Shrewsbury for 21 years, working again with the local health, medical, fitness and sports community.”
Paul Kirkbright, University Centre Shrewsbury Deputy Provost, added:
“Professor Buckley is an experienced and renowned academic who will guide students to reach their full potential and play a fundamental role in ensuring that University Centre Shrewsbury achieves excellence in research and scholarship.
“He has contributed to services in Shropshire and the development of University Centre Shrewsbury to date, as well as the improvement of health on a national and international scale. We are delighted that he will be leading courses and research from this September and will continue his influential work as a Professor at University Centre Shrewsbury.”
Prof Buckley’s health and recreation pursuits include playing tennis as a member of the Shropshire County Senior Men’s team. He is also a trumpeter at Shrewsbury Cathedral and in small jazz ensembles.
University Centre Shrewsbury is being established by the University of Chester and Shropshire Council and welcomes its first undergraduates in September 2015. Postgraduate teaching started in 2014.
For further information, including details of courses, go to www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk, email enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk or call 01244 511000.
