Jeremy Howick


Jeremy Howick is a Canadian-born, British residing clinical epidemiologist and philosopher of science. He is known for his research on evidence-based medicine and the philosophy of medicine, including the use of placebos in clinical practice and clinical trials. He is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed papers, as well as two books, The Philosophy of Evidence-Based Medicine in 2011, and Doctor You in 2017. In 2016, he received the Dawkins & Strutt grant from the British Medical Association to study pain treatment. He publishes in Philosophy of Medicine and medical journals.

Early Life and Education

Howick, a native of Montreal, Canada, is a graduate of Westmount High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering from the Dartmouth College, and graduate degrees from The London School of Economics and the University of Oxford. His PhD at the London School of Economics was conducted under the supervision of Professors Nancy Cartwright and John Worrall. He is a senior researcher in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, where he competed in The Boat Race. He is the director of the Oxford Empathy Programme there. His paternal grandfather is a Member of the Order of Canada for his philanthropic work.

International Rowing

As a freshman at Dartmouth College, Jeremy learned to row. He subsequently competed international's for Canada at the 1994 World Championships, and won a silver medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He also competed in The Boat Race 1996 representing Oxford.

Professional background

Howick is known for his research on placebo effects, and the effects of mind-body self-healing, especially how these can help treat pain. His research has been translated for popular audiences in his book Doctor You.

Broadcasting

Howick designed a trial of placebo treatments for back pain for a BBC [Horizon documentary.