Dr Ruth James marks first year of driving education and lifestyle medicine
The Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) is proud to celebrate Dr Ruth James’s first year as Associate Professor in Lifestyle Medicine, and more recently becoming the Co-Director of the MSc in Diabetes.
Ruth’s academic journey began with an undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen, followed by an MSc in Sports Nutrition at Loughborough University. She went on to complete a PhD while holding a teaching post at Loughborough, gaining valuable experience that blended research with practical education. This strong academic foundation paved the way for a successful career in higher education.
Over the next 14 years at Nottingham Trent University, Ruth progressed from Research Associate to Principal Lecturer and Courses Manager, where she managed six undergraduate programmes, oversaw around 1,300 students, and coordinated quality assurance and curriculum development across approximately 60 modules.
At LDC, Ruth is part of the Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group, where she leads on teaching within the team. In autumn 2025, she became Co-Director of the MSc in Diabetes, working alongside Professor David Webb. This part-time, distance learning course is designed to give clinicians and healthcare professionals the knowledge and confidence to specialise in diabetes care.
“We have created a new lifestyle medicine module for the MSc that is specialised for type 2 diabetes,” Ruth explains. “By educating healthcare professionals, we can make a real difference to people living with diabetes.”
In addition to her role on the MSc, Ruth is also focused on embedding lifestyle medicine into undergraduate medical training. “The NHS is shifting towards prevention, and clinicians need the confidence to have conversations about lifestyle, diet, and physical activity. Helping future doctors develop that knowledge and skill set is hugely motivating.”
Looking ahead, Ruth is keen to further develop the MSc and is working with the wider LDC team on a new module focusing on clinical obesity. These developments reflect her commitment to evolving the course to meet the needs of healthcare professionals and improve patient care.
Ruth notes: “It is important to make a real impact by keeping courses current and relevant. We’re so well positioned with the breadth of expertise we have here at LDC.”
Tom Yates, Professor of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Health, and Director of the Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group, said: “It’s fantastic to have Ruth as part of the team. Her expertise in teaching and curriculum development, combined with her passion for lifestyle medicine, brings real strength to our education offering. She’s already making a significant impact on the MSc and helping us shape the future of medical education.”
Ruth’s research interests focus on university students and young adults. She explains: “Students experience enormous change, moving away from home, family and friends, managing finances, and adapting to academic pressures. These transitions often link to poor choices around diet, physical activity, and sleep. Habits formed in early adulthood tend to persist, so this is a critical stage for intervention.”
Outside of work, Ruth lives locally with her husband, three daughters, and their dog. She enjoys running, going to the gym, and volunteers as a Beaver group leader for children aged six to eight.
“We also love Parkrun! My daughters and I attend our local Parkrun on Saturdays, and the junior event on Sundays,” she adds with a smile.
To find out more about the Diabetes MSc, visit: https://le.ac.uk/courses/diabetes-msc-dl/2025
Dr Ruth James.
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