Ian trained in medicine at the Universities of St Andrews and Manchester. Following qualification, he specialised in general practice and public health and has worked in a number of different settings both in the UK and abroad.

He joined the University of York in 1994 when he took up a post in the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, and was appointed Professor of Primary and Community Care in the Department of Health Studies in 1997. Currently his main research interests are: communication and health care; patient safety; effectiveness of health and healthcare interventions; and knowledge transfer. With respect to teaching - he is HYMS curriculum theme lead for patient centered care and programme lead for the MPH In addition to his work with HYMS and in the Department of Health Sciences, Ian Watt job-shares as a GP principal in the Harewood Medical Practice and is a Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine with the North Yorkshire and York PCT.