Fiona Day Consulting - Transforming Health Leadership

04/03/2026

Public health is built on evidence.

So why isn’t public health leadership development?

I’ve just led a systematic review published in Public Health examining the evidence base for leadership development in our field.

We analysed studies from 2007 to 2025 across international settings.

Here’s the uncomfortable finding:

Only three studies explicitly grounded leadership development in psychological theory.

Three.

In a discipline tackling behavioural change, system complexity, workforce strain, and adaptive leadership under pressure, that gap matters.

Our review suggests what actually works is not isolated courses, but ecosystems:

Formal learning.
Coaching.
Team-based practice.
Supportive culture.
Structural reinforcement.

Leadership development is not an event. It is a system.

Do you agree that if we demand rigour in epidemiology and intervention science, we should demand the same rigour in developing those who lead?

The full review and pre-publication copy are available here ⬇️

https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/is-your-public-health-leadership-development-based-on-psychological-theory/

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

Public Health has recently published a systematic review which I have led, examining the evidence base for public health leadership development:

23/02/2026

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲: 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐫-𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐇 '𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡' 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

The evidence base underpinning leadership development for the public health workforce was published in the international peer-reviewed RSPH journal Public Health.

Fiona Day, Vicky Snape, Dhanya Gardner, Cecilia Vinchenzo, M.N. Dalili, S.G. Baird, Kalu Udu, Jim McManus. Evidence-based public health leadership development: A systematic review and urgent call to include psychological theory. Public Health, Volume 253, 2026, 106178

✅FREE ACCESS until 10 April: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1me9w7bKCDpvU

& 👉🏽here for my 4 publications in BMJ Leader https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/services/bmj-leader-coaching-evidence-doctors-medical-public-health-leaders/

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

18/02/2026

It’s always meaningful to hear how coaching creates space for honest reflection and courageous action.

This message came from a senior GP partner and PCN Clinical Director working in West Yorkshire:

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙁𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙗𝙞𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙. 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.”

- Senior GP Partner & PCN Clinical Director, West Yorkshire

Often, the most important part of leadership development is having a space that is independent, psychologically safe and grounded in thoughtful challenge - where complex issues can be explored clearly and constructively.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

11/02/2026

In this week’s blog, I share insights from recent evaluations across my coaching and training work with public health and health leaders.

Across 2023–2025, clients consistently report outcomes including:

• Greater clarity about career direction
• Stronger leadership identity and confidence
• Improved decision-making in complex systems
• Progression into senior roles
• Reduced burnout and renewed wellbeing

I also reflect on why evidence-based coaching, high-quality coach training, and psychologically safe learning environments matter so much for leaders working under sustained pressure - and how combining psychological science with deep sector experience creates lasting impact.

If you’re a medical or public health leader navigating complexity, transition, or growth, this week's blog may resonate.

https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/transforming-leadership-coaching-training-development/

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

Dr Fiona Day, Chartered Coaching Psychologist and EMCC Master Practitioner, provides expert coaching, training and leadership development for medical and public health professionals. Build confidence, clarity and impact in your health leadership career.

04/02/2026

It’s always meaningful to hear how coaching supports leaders to reshape their roles in ways that genuinely fit.

This message came from a medical director working within a national charity:

“Using the tools I learned from you, I was able to craft my ideal role – keeping the elements of my current role that I love and leaving the rest. I truly believe I could not have done this without the coaching. All of it was useful and – probably most importantly – the encouragement to believe in my value to my employer.”

Much of this work is about helping people recognise their value, make intentional choices, and design roles that reflect both contribution and sustainability.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

28/01/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode

This week, I’m joined by Mr Alwyn Abraham, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, medical educationalist, and Chair-Elect of World Orthopaedic Concern.

Alwyn has spent nearly four decades working at the sharp end of healthcare. What makes this conversation so powerful is his honesty about leadership, self-development, and the human realities of working under sustained pressure.

We talk about:
• Leading large clinical teams through COVID
• Why availability and kindness matter as much as authority
• Using power to empower others
• Creating psychologically safe cultures for learning and feedback
• Moving from external validation to internal conviction as a leader
• How global health work reshaped his perspective on service and values

Alwyn reflects beautifully on the shift many clinicians experience over time - from striving and achievement to leading with clarity, purpose and humanity.

If you’re a clinician or health leader navigating complexity, responsibility, or transition, I think you’ll find this episode grounding, reflective and quietly inspiring.

🎧 Listen now on all podcast platforms.

https://podcast.fionadayconsulting.co.uk

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

21/01/2026

In my latest podcast episode, I speak with Dr Ahsana Nazish, a public health leader in Pakistan whose work bridges hospital management, health systems, and policy. She leads a network of primary care filter clinics across Punjab, delivering screening and treatment for liver and kidney diseases while pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Ahsana shares her remarkable journey from being the first woman in her family to study medicine to leading large-scale healthcare programmes in Pakistan. She reflects on the challenges of digital transformation in rural healthcare, building trust through partnerships, and navigating leadership as a woman in complex cultural and professional settings.

We explore how vision, resilience, and mentorship can transform systems and how data, innovation, and collaboration can strengthen global health for the future.

If you are a health leader passionate about equity, impact, and system change, this episode will leave you inspired by what is possible when courage meets compassion.

https://podcast.fionadayconsulting.co.uk

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

21/01/2026

I’m always grateful when leaders take time to reflect on the impact of our work together. This message came from a clinical leader working in primary care in New Zealand:

“Working with Fiona equipped me with the tools, skills and attitudes that will serve my career and personal development for a lifetime - including navigating personal barriers to achieving my desired professional state. Fiona’s expertise in healthcare, leadership, coaching and psychology were demonstrable in our sessions, which left me feeling in good hands and confident in the process.”

Coaching that integrates psychology, leadership and healthcare practice can create lasting change - not just for roles or transitions, but for how leaders show up over time.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

14/01/2026

As medical and public health leaders, you’re expected to lead people through increasing complexity, pressure and change - often without any formal training in how to lead conversations that truly support, motivate and develop others.

That’s where coaching skills make a critical difference and are becoming an essential leadership capability for senior doctors and public health specialists.

My EMCC-accredited Coaching Skills for Medical & Public Health Leaders programme supports health leaders to move from problem-solvers to capability-builders - without losing pace or standards.

I also outline:
• What coaching skills look like in real clinical and public health leadership
• How leaders are using them in appraisal, supervision and system work
• Feedback from a UK public health leader who completed the course
• Who the programme is designed for, and what participants gain

👉 Click here to learn more about the programme : https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/coaching-skills-every-medical-public-health-specialist-needs-now/

If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership impact while staying true to your professional values, this may be a helpful next step.

EMCC-accredited coaching skills course for medical and public health specialists. Build leadership confidence, coaching capability and impact with Dr Fiona Day.

07/01/2026

I’m always delighted when leaders share reflections from our work together. This message came from a National Public Health Leader within the NHS, navigating a particularly demanding transition:

“Very professional coach. Sympathetic but challenging and gives homework to help progress between times. Kept me afloat during a very challenging period which I am proud to have come through without too many scars. A better transition than the last couple. Honest and with a wide range of tools to offer. Understands the Public Health world.”

Coaching during periods of pressure and uncertainty is often where the most meaningful work takes place - supporting leaders to stay steady, feel resourced, and move through complexity with clarity.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

10/12/2025

It’s always a privilege to support senior health leaders through moments of transition and growth. I received this message recently from a Senior Medical Public Health Leader at the World Health Organisation:

“I was very pleased with the work done by Fiona during our coaching sessions. She really helped me to understand how employable I actually was. She was very empathic and demonstrated both an excellent knowledge of the feelings and psychological pressure we sometimes go through and how to put things into perspective by looking at the real-world. The exercises we did to simulate job interviews and the analysis she did were great to equip me with tangible tools in the near future.”

Coaching sits at the intersection of clarity, confidence, and perspective. Helping health leaders reconnect with their strengths and navigate pressure with greater ease is at the heart of my work.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

03/12/2025

This week, I’m in conversation with Dr Imran Ahmad, a GP board partner, training programme director, and clinical lead working at the heart of primary care transformation in London.

We explore how Imran has evolved from traditional general practice into strategic leadership, how he balances clinical work with board responsibilities, and what he’s learned about adapting leadership styles in complex systems.

He shares thoughtful reflections on letting go of comfort zones, developing emotional intelligence, building trust through delegation, and creating psychologically safe teams where people can truly grow.

It’s an inspiring reminder that leadership starts with curiosity and self-reflection, not with titles or job roles.

🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast platform or at fionadayconsulting.co.uk/podcast

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/