Dr Arif Rajpura BSc, MB ChB, MPH, MBA, FFPH, DRCOG, DFFP, PGC (Coaching)
Arif qualified from St Andrews University and Manchester Medical School. Following a period of time in clinical jobs he entered public health training in the North West of England in 1999.
Arif gained his first Consultant in Public Health post in September of 2004, based at Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust. Since August of 2007 Arif has held the position of Director of Public Health of NHS Blackpool and latterly Blackpool Council.
Arif’s current priorities include working on ‘whole systems’ integration with partners from public, private and voluntary sector organisations in order to improve population health using a place based approach. This has included establishing stronger partnerships with the public.
Arif has been heavily involved in alcohol policy work both regionally and nationally. More recently he has been working with North W Directors of Public Health to lobby for a sugar sweetened beverage tax and to curb the marketing influence of unhealthy food companies on children and young people. He is also currently leading a new approach to tackling obesity issues within Blackpool, particularly focusing on the obesogenic environment and helping to make the healthier choice the easier choice.
Arif also has the Children's champion role across the Lancashire & South Cumbria STP, in order to ensure an early years focus of the work programme.