Gerald (Gerry) Humphris graduated from University of Reading (BSc hons degree in Psychology) and was awarded a PhD from Guy’s Hospital, University of London investigating parental and child attitudes and behaviour related to health. He obtained clinical psychology training from Liverpool University (MClinPsychol) and worked as a NHS clinical psychologist before becoming a full-time Lecturer at University of Liverpool in 1991 and became their Director of Communication Skills for the School of Medicine. He has continued this interest in health provider-patient communication while at University of Manchester before taking up the post of Chair in Health Psychology at University of St Andrews. His School roles are: Director of MSc Health Psychology course and Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre in International Child and Adolescent Health Policy.
Gerry continues to develop the field of communication and health. The fields of health he concentrates on are oral health, head and neck cancer and health behaviour. He is actively involved in the detailed analysis of person-to-person interaction and how this investigation can be used to improves outcomes. The discovery of underlying processes to promote training and change in practice is a prime goal.
Gerry collaborates with members of the European Association for Communication in Health Care, with partners in two recent EU projects (ORION, TRIP) and a CIHR funded project (HeNCeLIFE) in Montreal.