The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) is pleased to announce that Professor Vicki Goodwin MBE has been appointed as its next Vice President Research and Academic Development.
Professor Goodwin is Professor of Ageing and Rehabilitation at the University of Exeter. She has been deputy to Professor Miles Witham as BGS Vice President Research and Academic Development and takes over the role in November 2026. A physiotherapist by professional background, she will be the first non-medic to take on the Vice President role.
Professor Goodwin has a particular interest in community rehabilitation for older people living with frailty and those with multiple long-term conditions. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for older people through rehabilitation and ensuring that research translates into meaningful improvements in clinical practice and patient care.
She is an NIHR Senior Investigator and has extensive experience in research funding and leadership. She sits on funding panels for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), including the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme and Senior Investigator panel, as well as for the Vivensa Foundation. In 2025, she was recognised with the Vivensa Foundation Senior Leader Excellence Award.
Professor Goodwin is passionate about developing the next generation of researchers in ageing. She has supported and mentored early career researchers to develop their research careers and secure research funding.
She also led the programme of work that developed recommendations for the inclusion of older people in research, published in Age and Ageing.
Professor Goodwin was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours for outstanding service to Physiotherapy.
Professor Vicki Goodwin MBE commented:
It’s a real privilege to have been appointed as the next BGS Vice President for Research. I can’t wait to work closely with the team to look at how best to support the next generation of ageing research leaders and to ensure research gets into practice so patients can benefit as soon as possible.
Professor Miles Witham, BGS Vice President for Research and Academic Development, commented:
Serving as BGS Vice President for Research and Academic Development over the last three years has been a pleasure and a privilege. I am delighted that Vicki has been appointed as my successor. Her track record as a research leader and champion for multiprofessional research career development, and her strong connections to other key players in the ageing research landscape, will stand her in good stead to deliver on the research ambitions within the BGS Strategy.
