29.11.19
Next President announced for Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (the ‘College’) has officially announced Professor Andrew Elder as president-elect today (Nov 29) at the annual St.Andrew’s Day Symposium.
Professor Elder will take office on March 1, bringing with him years of clinical, managerial and educational experience.
First appointed as an NHS consultant in 1993, he is currently a consultant geriatrician in NHS Fife, and will be the first geriatrician to be elected president. He is also an Honorary Professor at Edinburgh Medical School.
A visiting Professor at Stanford Medicine in the USA, he has been teaching core bedside skills to trainee doctors since 2013.
His central values are compassion, empathy and communication to carry out high quality care and believes they should remain fundamental elements of medical education.
Education and development carried out at the Scottish College reach across the UK and in countries all over the world, aiming to promote the highest possible standards of patient care.
One aim of Professor Elder is to strengthen the College’s support system and mentorship programmes offered to trainees and consultants, as patient care is directly affected by the wellbeing and morale of the medical workforce.
Regarding UK healthcare policy, he will work to defend the principles of the NHS and advocate increase national healthcare funding and capacity across all types of healthcare.
Commenting on becoming president-elect, Professor Andrew Elder said:
“I am deeply honoured to be the College’s next President and humbled by the messages of congratulations, support and encouragement that I have already received. I pay sincere tribute to the colleagues who ran alongside me.
“The College has made great strides in recent years – in no small measure due to the leadership of our current president, Professor Derek Bell OBE. I aim to build upon that success over the next three years.
“The College is its people: its Fellows and its Members. Our mission is to provide the highest possible standards of patient care.
“These are challenging times for medicine and, in my role as president, I will ensure that the College has a bold and influential professional voice; a voice strengthened by listening to others and by partnership with our sister Colleges, universities, employers and, of course, our patients.
“I look forward to working with Fellows and Members across the globe to achieve the College’s goals.”
Photo: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh