Jason Leitch

Professor Jason Leitch CBE is a leading public health official in Scotland, known for serving as the National Clinical Director of Healthcare Quality and Strategy for the Scottish Government. Leitch is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and has held several senior roles in healthcare quality improvement and patient safety. He earned a degree in dentistry and a doctorate from the University of Glasgow, as well as a Master of Public Health from Harvard University. Before his government service, Leitch completed clinical training in the West of Scotland and worked as a clinical lecturer and honorary consultant in oral surgery at Glasgow Dental Hospital and School.

Leitch joined the Scottish Government as the National Clinical Lead for Safety and Improvement, later serving as the National Clinical Lead for Quality and Clinical Director of the Quality Unit. In his role as National Clinical Director in the Health and Social Care Directorate, he oversaw quality in the health and social care system, including patient safety, person-centered care, NHS planning, and the implementation of quality improvement methods across government and the public sector. Leitch was part of the team that developed and led the Scottish Patient Safety Programme, contributing to significant improvements in healthcare outcomes, including reductions in healthcare-associated infections and surgical mortality.

Leitch is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and has served as a Quality Improvement Fellow at the organization in Boston. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee and a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Leitch received the HFMA UK Clinician of the Year Award, which recognizes clinical engagement in financial management, and was appointed CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Leitch became widely recognized in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic for his role in communicating public health messages as National Clinical Director. He regularly appeared at Scottish Government press conferences and participated in public engagement on television and radio, providing clear public health guidance.