Prof. the Lord Darzi of Denham

Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College London, and the Institute of Cancer Research. He is Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, Vice Chair of the UK Government All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health and the Executive Chair of the World Innovation Summit for Health, Qatar Foundation.

Research led by Professor Darzi is directed towards achieving best practice through innovation, enhancing patient safety and the quality of healthcare. He has published over 800 peer-reviewed research papers to date. In recognition of his achievements Professor Darzi has been elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society and a foreign associate of the Institute of Medicine (The US National Academy of Science)..

He was knighted for his services in medicine and surgery in 2002. In 2007, he was introduced to the House of Lords as Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham and appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health. Upon relinquishing this role in 2009, Professor Darzi sat as the United Kingdom’s Global Ambassador for Health and Life Sciences until March 2013. During this appointment and beyond Professor Darzi has developed his status as a leading voice in the field of global health policy and innovation. 

Professor Darzi was appointed a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council in June 2009. 

Lord Darzi has had the privilege of contributing to many activities in Qatar, mostly in Health Care reform and Innovation. He is currently a member of the Supreme Council of Health board, appointed by His Highness the Emir, and serves His Excellency Mr Abdullah Bin Khalid Al Qahtani, The Health Minister, in many areas of reform including cancer and primary care services. Lord Darzi is also a Member of the Qatar Foundation Advisory Board and Executive Chair of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative under the Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser. Most recently he has accepted an invitation to stand as a member of the Board of Governors of Sidra Medical and Research Center.

In January 2014 Professor Darzi was awarded the Qatari Sash of Independence by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in recognition of his contribution to Qatar’s health sector.