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Biography
Raj Bhopal, 63, is Bruce and John Usher professor of public health in Edinburgh University and honorary consultant in public health with NHS Lothian. Born in India, he migrated with his family to the Gorbals in Glasgow, where his parents raised eight children, seven of whom went to university. His books include Concepts of Epidemiology and Migration, Ethnicity, Race, and Health in Multicultural Societies . He is currently focusing on ethnic variation in disease, with a special emphasis on how to respond to this knowledge with more effective public health interventions and clinical services, particularly around cardiovascular disease and diabetes. He chairs the executive committee of the first world congress on migration, ethnicity, race, and health, to be held in Edinburgh in 2018.
What was your earliest ambition?
Being fond of sugar, I wanted to own a sweet shop. In my late school years I was moving to political science, and medicine was a late choice.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
The late Professor Tony Hedley (doi: 10.1136/bmj.h611 ), whose passion for public health was unbounded.
What was your best career move?
Saying yes to Professor Hedley's request to apply for a lectureship in his department, which I started at 10 am on 1 May 1985, five hours after watching...