Elizabeth Murray

General practitioner and pioneer in e-health. She was born London, UK, on Feb 8, 1960 died of breast cancer Battle, April 7, 2023 aged 63 years. Elizabeth Murray's influential career general practice began 1991 coincided with her first academic appointment as a lecturer primary care at University College London (UCL), UK. “She found that the two jobs worked very well together”, says Fiona Stevenson, Professor Medical Sociology UCL now Director innovative e-Health Unit Murray set up 2003. interest digital health, like earlier work community-based teaching for medical students, rooted determination to serve patients. “Everything she did needed have relevance people saw when surgery”, Stuart Linke, an NHS consultant clinical psychologist Associate Research Fellow Unit. “If it couldn’t be useful them wasn’t interested.” And firmly believed preoccupation hers since early 1990s, had much offer not forefront mind graduated from Oxford University, then Hospital degrees physiological sciences 1981 medicine 1985. Having also completed master's reproductive endocrinology initially drawn obstetrics gynaecology but took traineeship north health centre. 2 years later, attracted by prospect combining research, moved another where fitted post UCL. education. “Her aim develop teaching”, Stevenson. part group pushing forward value hospitals.” Her efforts showed this endeavour feasible, helped lay foundations its subsequent adoption other schools. “But proved hard-fought battle”, Stevenson adds. “Elizabeth always keen methodologies were innovative”, Linke. One development online research projects, everything done emailed questionnaires. managed combine enthusiasm greater patient involvement decision making. As explains: felt we do more than just provide information. We start engaging patients more…to websites apps allow interact. Just providing information doesn’t automatically change behaviour.” valued multidisciplinary approaches help colleagues, including psychologists, sociologists, behavioural scientists, developed computerised system helping make choices use hormone replacement therapy management benign prostatic hypertrophy. starting point find out what wanted services help. “People don’t want read about things, they share looking after their own health”, Even ambitious creation HeLP-Diabetes, web-based self-management programme type diabetes. colleagues only improved outcomes could implemented practice, reduced costs. “NHS England offered across NHS”, The success project paved way scheme designed support rehabilitation long COVID. In addition successfully directing UCL's Unit, made Primary Care 2013. From 2015 2018 headed is Department Population Health. accomplished meeting demands various roles. quick intelligence. instantly see needed”, questions sharp perceptive.” talks tenacity focus. “Everybody's expertise valued. It didn’t matter who you team….and clear vision shared people.” Linke recalls, Murray. “The learning got one bit would elsewhere…You sense working bigger yours.” leaves partner, Debbie Lennard, brother, Mark Jones.