David M Clark, who is Emeritus Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, took up his role on 17 July 2023.

Professor Clark is well-known for his pioneering work on the understanding and psychological treatment of anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, health anxiety and PTSD.

Recently, he has also focused on how to disseminate effective psychological treatments within healthcare systems and is one of the architects of the English Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. IAPT was recently renamed in 2023 as NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression.

David Walker, Chair of Oxford Health said:

“We’re delighted to welcome not just a distinguished scientist to the board, but someone deeply versed in translating new knowledge into therapies and techniques of practical benefit to NHS patients.”

The Trust is home to the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, one of the UK’s only two specialist mental health centres, dedicated to solving problems of mental disorders and dementia, turned advance in knowledge into new treatments.

Professor Clark said:

“I am very much looking forward to working with Oxford Health colleagues to ensure patients who use our services receive effective and respectful treatment for their mental health difficulties.”

Professor Clark is a Fellow of the British Academy, the UK Academies of Medical Sciences and Social Sciences, the British Association of Behavioural Psychotherapies, and the Association for Psychological Science (USA).

Honours include a CBE for contributions to mental health and Distinguished Scientist / Lifetime Achievement Awards from the British, Canadian and American Psychological Associations. The latter described his work as “pure genius with a real-world application”.

He succeeds Professor Kia Nobre, Head of the University’s Department of Experimental Psychology, who stepped down recently after two years’ service.

Commenting on her departure, David Walker said:

“We are very grateful for Professor Nobre’s contribution to the Trust and wish her well as she moves to an exciting new post at Yale University.”