Lee Dawson

Lee has been an Associate Lecturer at Southampton Solent University since 2004. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science in 1994.

Lee also has a Master of Science degree (with commendation) in Public Health from the University of Bedfordshire and a Diploma of Advanced Educational Studies in Health Education and Health Promotion from the University of Southampton and as a defined public health specialist. He is currently working towards registration with the UKPHR (UK Public Health Register) as a ‘Defined Public Health Specialist’. He is also a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science.

Lee’s academic interests lie in the following areas: Exercise Referral, Public Health, Physical Activity and Health, Behaviour Change, Motivational Interviewing, Green Exercise and Health Inequalities.

Lee has had a varied career in the leisure, fitness and sport industries before beginning his extensive career within the NHS. This has included various roles including the development, delivery and management of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise referral programmes and the delivery, commissioning and strategic development of a range of health promotion and public health programmes and interventions.

Lee currently holds a full-time position as an ‘Advanced Public Health Practitioner’ with NHS Hampshire where he is the lead for Physical Activity, working in partnership with local authorities and other key partners to improve physical activity levels in Hampshire.

Key recent pieces of work include the development of a Physical Activity Strategic Framework for Hampshire & Isle of Wight and becoming an advisor for the development of a South East Region Accreditation system for Exercise Referral Schemes. He also leads the Hampshire ‘Health Trainer’ programme.

Lee’s research interests include weight management and health training.

Lee is currently seeking to publish a research study: ‘Qualitative experiences of patients involved in slimming on referral using commercial weight management organisations’.