Alison Northern, Implementation Lead at the Leicester Diabetes Centre, oversees real-world delivery and implementation of evidence-based, person-centred educational interventions. She also leads the DESMOND Head Office, supporting rollout of structured education programmes for people living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes and other long-term conditions.
Alison began her NHS career in 2006 and quickly developed a passion for embedding diabetes structured education into routine care. Her work focuses on closing the translational gap between research and practice, ensuring proven interventions are implemented effectively and sustained long-term. She is committed to improving access, equity, and engagement in diabetes education, particularly among underserved populations.
Alison plays a pivotal role in the success of several large-scale initiatives, including the award-winning DESMOND group programme, which has reached over 700,000 participants across the UK and Ireland, and the MyDESMOND digital platform, which supports more than 65,000 users in managing their health remotely.