About
UK Health Strategist, Consultant, Writer and Wellbeing Educator
About My Career
Dr Rosamund Yoxall BMBS BSc MSc
I believe that being healthy shouldn’t feel like another full-time job.
It should be doable, effective, and grounded into the messy, beautiful reality of our everyday lives.
But that common sense approach seems to have gone missing from an awful lot of modern health content and services. It has all become so over-complicated and overwhelming. Confusion and guilt is rife. We’re constantly feeling like we’re failing ourselves (or our families) by not managing to ‘do it all.’ And a million and one businesses are now ready to pounce upon and profit from our hesitancy.
Well. I’m here to say we really don’t need to do it all.
Simple health often works better.
And how can I say that with such conviction?
Because I’ve spent the best part of two decades obsessed with this subject. I’ve taken a uniquely winding career path specifically so I could become a specialist on what it takes to be healthy in the real world.
If you’re interested in the detail, the synopsis is below…
1 - Medicine
I initially trained and worked as an NHS doctor. While at medical school I took a year out to do an additional BSc exploring the systemic structures that underpin health inequalities and delivery (Medical Sciences with Management from Imperial College). In the university holidays, I worked as a private chef - learning practical skills I call on every day now.
2 - Nutrition
After two years in clinical practice, I left mainstream medicine and went back to university to get an MSc in Nutritional Medicine (University of Surrey) recognising the huge role that lifestyle plays in disease risk and progression. I co-authored an academic paper on the role of vitamin B12 in pregnancy from my dissertation work.
3 - Private Practice & Health Writing
I then worked as a private nutritionist in London & Devon, undertaking additional training in Functional Medicine (uncovering the root causes of disease), alongside exploring various behaviour change modalities. I worked very closely alongside Amelia Freer for many years, contributing to three best-selling health and nutrition books along the way.
4 - Digital Health
In lockdown (and with a newborn), I co-founded a health-tech company, learning all about data, digital product design and start-up life. Sadly, this is no longer running (NHS funding being a fickle beast!). But I learned through doing all this about the essential role that digital is going to play in healthcare of the future. I still use these experiences to support and mentor various health tech start-up teams through Zinc Venture Builder.
5 - Management Consulting
Off the back of all this, I was invited to work as a Clinical Lead Programme Manager at SCW Commissioning Support Unit (focussing on digital and proactive care consultancy for the NHS), contributing to national digital health strategy along the way.
6 - Clinician Wellbeing
I then co-founded an organisation supporting clinician wellbeing through day retreats in the South West of the UK (We Are Off Call), recognising the pressing need to better care for the people who care for us.
And now?
Today, I work as a Health Strategist, spanning three core areas, all of which come under the umbrella of my core mission to help Make Healthy Simple.
Independent Health Strategy Consulting
Helping teams, health tech start-ups and scale-ups, and founders design and verify wellbeing strategies and health systems that work within the complexities of real, complex lives and systems.
Writing
Translating evidence and experience into practical frameworks for real-world wellbeing, through expert editorial, opinion and a (hopefully upcoming) book.
Speaking, Teaching & Retreats
Speaking passionately on the future of health and prevention, with a focus on what’s practical, effective and sustainable (rather than hyped). My brand new online course “Simple Health: The no-nonsense guide to living well in a busy world” is launching soon.
Outside of work I am a busy mum, keen grower - we are pretty self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables over the summer months - and occasional floral designer. I also love painting, especially the beautiful landscapes around our home.
