Dr John Øvretveit is Director of Research at the Medical Management Centre, The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Bergen University Medical School, Norway, and previously at the Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden.

John's work is based on the belief that organisation and management can bring out the best and worst in people, and that the right organisation design is critical for effective healthcare. A theme underlying his work is how practical research can contribute both to better care for patients and to "healthy work organization". His recent book describes action evaluation methods for giving rapid feedback for service providers and policy-makers to improve their services. He has worked most of his career on research which makes both a practical and scientific contribution and is interested in methods which make this possible.

John is a Norwegian-Brit with expertise in the fields of health service quality, health management, organisation, evaluation, interprofessional cooperation and health reforms. He has undertaken health evaluation and development projects in a number of African countries, Yemen, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Baltic countries and the USA.

Translations of some of his 270 scientific papers and books have been made into eight languages. Six books have won publications awards including twice winner of the European Health Management Association Award and the Baxter health publication of the year prize for "Action Evaluation" (2002) and "Health Service Quality" (1992). He is currently a reviewer for and editorial board member of eight scientific health journals and of the advisory board for the UK Service and Delivery and Organisation NHS national research and commissioning programme.