Moray House School of Education and Sport proudly welcomes Dr Jane Thornton to our academic community. Our School is thrilled to announce an exciting collaboration between the Edinburgh Sports Medicine Research Centre (ESMRC) and the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC). Together, the two centres have nominated Dr Jane Thornton for an Honorary Professorship. She began her role in April of this year.Dr Thornton, recently appointed as the Director of Health, Medicine and Science at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), brings a wealth of experience from her background as both a clinician and elite athlete. As a rower, she represented Canada for over a decade, winning a world championship in 2006 and competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.Dr Thornton holds a PhD from Western University, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications in sports medicine. Her extensive experience includes leadership positions such as President of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine and Editor of the British Journal of Sport and Exercise Medicine. Dr Jane Thornton It is a great honour for me to receive this recognition from such an outstanding institution, world renowned for its innovative research in sports medicine and physical activity for health. I look forward to collaborating with and learning from my esteemed colleagues within the University of Edinburgh’s exceptional academic community. - Dr Jane ThorntonBeyond her achievements as an athlete, she has also served in medical and/or research capacities at the Athens 2004, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. She has worked with international federations like the International Ice Hockey Federation and World Rowing to provide medical support at World Championship events.This prestigious appointment highlights the strength of our research centres and their ability to foster influential international partnerships. ESMRC Director Dr Debbie Palmer said, “We are thrilled that Jane has accepted our nomination as Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh. This honour rightfully acknowledges her outstanding and ongoing contributions to research focussed on injury and illness prevention and the protection of athlete health. “ESMRC is also one of only 11 recognised IOC Research Centres worldwide, operating as part of the Edinburgh-Bath UK Collaborating Centre on Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport (UKCCIIS). We are proud to continue our close partnership with Jane, aligned in our commitment to advancing evidence-based strategies to improve athlete care. We look forward to continuing this collaboration through the IOC Research Centre initiatives both now and in the years ahead.”Director of PAHRC, Professor Marie Murphy, added “We are delighted with this joint appointment. Dr Thornton’s focus on athlete health, reflected in the recent re-naming of the IOC department to ‘Health, Medicine and Science’, aligns well with our vision to support people to be physically active across the life course. We look forward to working with Dr Thornton in her new role.”The School and University are proud to welcome Dr Thornton to its academic community. Related information:Honorary Professorships 2024/25 | The University of EdinburghEdinburgh Sports Medicine Research Centre(ESMRC)Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC)IOC: Dr Jane Thornton appointed as new IOC Medical and Scientific Director Tags Celebrations and ceremonies Research centres, groups and networks Sport and physical activity Research news Publication date 15 Jul, 2025
