Professor Martin Pitt

About me:

I joined Exeter University in 1998 following an early academic background in psychology, cognitive science and human-computer interaction. My passion and research interests are broadly centred on the application of modelling techniques to improve healthcare. My work has been highly applied and focussed on implementation and impact in policy and decision making. In this context, I have a specific research interest in the use of visualisation tools to improve information accessibility and its communication to key stakeholders in healthcare. In addition, I have a strong interest in the integration of economic and cost-effectiveness modelling for service re-design. I have played a leading role in establishing networks across regional, national and international communities. In 2004, I established, and now co-ordinate, MASHnet (The UK Network for Modelling and Simulation in Healthcare) a national network promoting the integration of operational research into UK health services. In 2009, I formed PenCHORD (The Peninsula Collaboration for Health Operational Research and Development) a highly successful research team located within the NIHR CLAHRC SW (Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care - South-west Peninsula). As director of PenCHORD I have over-seen over fifty collaborative research projects working directly with NHS organisations to improve service delivery. In January 2019 I was elected President of the Association of Professional Healthcare Analysts (AphA) – a dynamic UK based network to support the development of analysts and the promotion of data science more generally within the NHS.

Within the field of health services research, Martin Pitt’s specific focus is on the application of operational research methods (e.g. modelling, simulation, and forecasting) and health economic cost-effectiveness analysis. Between 2003-2010, he work as part of PenTAG and developed cost-effectiveness models for use in health technology assessment for the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellent (NICE). More recently, as Director of PenCHORD (Peninsula Collaboration for Health Operational Research and Development) he has led a wide range of initiatives in the application of these techniques across NHS trusts in Devon and Cornwall.

Martin has a long standing interest in the effective implementation of research in health services and specifically in the use of visualisation techniques to improve the communication of research to key user groups. In 2004 he established MASHnet (the UK Modelling and Simulation in Healthcare Network) which aims to build links between health service, research and commercial sectors in order to improve understanding and effective implementation of these techniques for Service Delivery.

In 2010 he was appointed Director of PenCHORD (www.penchord.org) which has been successful in developing a wide range of effective modelling projects with health service trusts in Devon and Cornwall. This work has resulted in publications in high impact journals (see publications below). Within PenCHORD, Martin now manages a team of five researchers (with two more appointments pending) and led on a number of successful grant initiatives (see below) and has organised and presented his work at major national and international events.

• Apr 2005 Diploma in Health Economics, Aberdeen University
• Mar 1999 Engineering Doctorate: Interactive Simulation for Management Support – A Case Study Approach in Healthcare. University of Manchester.
• Sep. 1996 Diploma in Management Sciences (First Class), UMIST. School of Management Science.
• Sep. 1990 MSc. in Cognition, Computing and Psychology. University of Warwick
• Jun. 1981 BSc. Hons. Degree in Psychology , Bristol University