Dr Liz Robin, the Public Health Director for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, is retiring at the end of April. Having originally planned to retire this January, Dr Robin delayed her retirement so that she could continue to lead public health in the area during the pandemic over the winter months. 

Born and educated in Cambridge, Dr Robin studied medicine at the University of Oxford and Westminster Medical School, and worked as a hospital doctor before training in Public Health in East London. 

She went on to become Director of Public Health for East Cambridgeshire and Fenland in 2002, and then for Cambridgeshire in 2006, before taking on her current role as Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council in 2015. 

In this role Dr Robin has been at the head of a public health team providing specialist public health advice to local Councils and NHS organisations as well as working with other local organisations and communities to protect local residents’ health. She is also responsible for commissioning front line public health programmes, such as smoking cessation services, weight management services, sexual health and contraception clinics and health promotion campaigns. 

Speaking of her retirement, Dr Robin said “My successor will be joining a fantastic team, which has worked tirelessly to support communities across the area to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection, and to bring outbreaks under control when they occur."

“Until April I will continue in my role with all the energy and effort that I have given to it throughout my time as Director of Public Health – which has never been more necessary than during the past year.”

Reacting to the announcement of her retirement, colleagues Cllr Peter Hudson, Chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Health Committee, and Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Public Health at Peterborough City Council, both wished her well for the future and said that “she will be greatly missed”. 

Fitzgerald highlighted how “particularly during this horrible pandemic [...] she has gone above and beyond, doing a great job to help keep people safe”, supported by Hudson’s description that “her commitment to her role and her leadership during this COVID-19 pandemic has been second to none, and involved her and her team in long hours of challenging work, which is set to continue for some months to come”.

In a statement on Dr Robin’s retirement, Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge, told Varsity:“I wish Liz a happy retirement and thank her for her service to healthcare across Cambridgeshire especially during the uniquely challenging time of this pandemic. I am grateful that she delayed her retirement plans when COVID struck.”

Zeichner continued: "She has always responded to my enquiries about concerns that my constituents have raised quickly and sympathetically based on her deep understanding of public health issues. She is a shining example of the value of public service, and we will miss her in Cambridgeshire.”

The University has been contacted for comment.