Appointed professor of palliative and end of life care in 2018, whilst remaining an honorary consultant geriatrician at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. He has been NHS-employed for most of his career, with an honorary academic role and an active research and teaching portfolio. Rowan spent 10 years as a consultant in stroke medicine, before developing a new specialism in medical-interface cognitive disorders (delirium and dementia), developing a specialist medical and mental health unit and pioneering use of person-centred philosophy in acute geriatric medical care. Editor in Chief of Age and Ageing.