Yesterday (6 November) CIHT held the annual CIHT Learned Society Lecture in Central London focusing on ‘Transport and Health’.  

CIHT was honoured to have Professor Chris Whitty KCB FRS FMedSci present the lecture to fellows, members, and invited guests of CIHT.  

Additionally, CIHT President for 25/26 Mitesh Solanki bestowed an Honorary CIHT Fellowship to Professor Whitty for his contributions to transport over his career, followed by a Q&A after the lecture led by CIHT Chief Executive Sue Percy CBE.  

The Professor’s lecture highlighted major health inequalities between deprived and affluent areas in England, with deprivation driving poorer health and economic outcomes. Transport strongly affects health through active travel, air pollution, and safety. Focusing on deprived areas offers the greatest public health impact. Using heart disease as an example, the data showed the benefits of physical activity and cleaner air. Promoting active travel through practical, accessible routes can yield major health gains, while continued progress is needed on air pollution and road safety. 

CIHT believes as an Honorary Fellow, Professor Whitty will be able to lend his voice, influence, and advocacy to CIHT’s work in the active travel and public health area.  

Mitesh Solanki said:  

We would like to recognise Professor Chris Whitty with CIHT’s highest honour, the CIHT Honorary Fellowship, for the important work he has done especially in connection with encouraging people to incorporate active travel into their day to keep mentally and physically fit.  

In presenting this award, CIHT recognises that Professor Whitty is an influential figure, known to many people, who is advocating the role of transport and specifically active travel as an important solution in tackling the health inequality agenda. The Professor's commitment to improving health through active travel aligns closely with CIHT’s work in this area. 

CIHT Report Launch:

The CIHT Learned Society Lecture 2025 also saw the launch of CIHT’s most recent policy report ‘Overcoming the barriers to implementing active travel schemes’ https://www.ciht.org.uk/proactive 

CIHT looks forward to continuing an ongoing dialogue with Professor Whitty, the UK Government, the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom and the Department of Health and Social Care, working towards reducing preventative health conditions through highlighting the benefits of walking, wheeling, and cycling. 

Further Information:  

Professor Chris Whitty is Chief Medical Officer for England, the UK government’s Chief Medical Adviser, and head of the public health profession. 

The Professor is a practising NHS Consultant Physician at University College London Hospitals and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and a visiting professor at Gresham College. 

Professor Whitty is an epidemiologist and has undertaken research and worked as a doctor in the UK, Africa, and Asia. He was Professor of Public and International Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and remains an honorary professor.  

Professor Whitty is also an advisor to Active Travel England.