David Murphy

Academic profile

Professor David Murphy

Clinical Programme Director
School of Psychology (Faculty of Health)

The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. David's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 03: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingGoal 04: SDG 4 - Quality EducationGoal 10: SDG 10 - Reduced InequalitiesGoal 17: SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

About David

Professor David Murphy FBPsS FRSA undertook his first degree in Psychology & Zoology at the University of Reading and his postgraduate clinical psychology training at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. He has worked as a clinically in the National Health Service for over 35 years, mainly helping patients and their families to cope with serious injury and chronic medical conditions. Over the course of his career he has worked across a wide range of clinical specialities, including spinal cord injury, diabetes, cardiology, major trauma, chronic pain, neurology, and neurosurgery.

In 2001, he was seconded as a project manager at the newly established Commission for Health Improvement (which is now CQC) to work on the development of the first national programme of clinical governance reviews and was part of the review team for 15 NHS Trusts. This experience contributed to David's interest in organizational dynamics and clinical leadership, which he has developed through an Executive MBA at City of London University Business School and a PhD in Leadership Development at the Centre for Strategic Leadership at University of Edinburgh.

From 2002-13, David was the Head of Psychology Services at Imperial College Healthcare in London where he was responsible for clinical health psychology and neuropsychology services across five acute hospital and community rehabilitation services across four London Boroughs. During this time, he was also an Honorary Senior Lecturer and the lead for psychology teaching at Imperial College Medical School.

In 2013, David became Joint Director of the Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and fellow of Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford. In addition to overall responsibility for doctoral training programme in Clinical Psychology, he was responsible for developing and evaluationg a leadership development programme for clinical trainees.

David has undertaken many national professional roles including as Director of Professional Standards for the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology, Chief Examiner for the BPS Qualificaiton in Clinical Neuropsychology, Chair of the BPS Professional Practice Board, Chair of the Clinical Psychology Clearing House and advisor to the Health & Care Professions Council on development of Standards of Profiency in Clinical Psychology. He has served as a member of the Department of Health Ministerial Advisory Group on Mental Health and been co-chair of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health.

He is committed to international development of psychological practice and has undertaken consultancy and project work in many countries around the world including Japan, Senegal, and Sri Lanka.

David was elected as the 2019-2020 President of the British Psychological Society and in 2019 established a presidential taskforce on diversity & inclusion. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he led the BPS Covid-19 taskforce which coordinated the Society's contribution to managing the pandemic across eight workstreams. He personally co-led the workstreams on staff wellbeing and post-covid recovery and served as Mental Health lead for the development of the NHS Your Covid Recovery Programme.

Contact David