Professor Martin Pitt, Emeritus Professor of Applied Healthcare Modelling and Data Science at the University of Exeter, has been awarded the prestigious Beale Medal by The Operational Research Society in recognition of his pioneering work in healthcare modelling and analytics.
The award celebrates Professor Pitt’s sustained contribution to the practice and application of Operational Research (OR), recognising the impact of his research on healthcare organisations, policymakers and patient care.
A lasting contribution to healthcare research
Professor Pitt played a key role in establishing the Peninsula Collaboration for Health Operational Research and Data Science (PenCHORD) in 2010, within the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West (ARC South West).
As director of PenCHORD until 2025, he led a programme of collaborative research that helped establish Operational Research as an important part of healthcare improvement.
His work has focused on developing and applying simulation modelling to support healthcare policy and decision-making. By helping organisations understand complex healthcare systems, this research enables more informed decisions about how services are designed and delivered.
Recognising collaborative research
Reflecting on the award, Professor Pitt said:
“It’s a massive honour to receive this award and join such a distinguished line of previous recipients. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed bringing people and professional communities together to improve patient care through the application of Operational Research. To that extent this award belongs as much to the wonderful colleagues who have accompanied me along the way as to myself.”
The Beale Medal was presented by the Operational Research Society at its annual Awards Ceremony at the University of Nottingham on 9 September 2026.
Professor Pitt has also been invited to organise and deliver the Beale Lecture in spring 2027. The recognition celebrates not only Professor Pitt’s individual achievements, but also the collaborative research and partnerships that have helped bring healthcare modelling into practice.