Graeme Catto
Encyclopedia
Sir Graeme Robertson Dawson Catto, MB ChB (Hons), MD (Hons), DSc, FKC, FRCP
, FRCGP, FRCSE, FFPM, FMedSci
, FRSE
is a Scottish
doctor
who was President, later Chair, of the General Medical Council
until April 2009. He is also currently Emeritus Professor
of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen
and was an honorary Consultant
nephrologist
at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
.
, the son of a local general practitioner. He attended Robert Gordon's College
(Aberdeen; 1950-63), becoming school captain and gaining the Otaki Shield for the pupil outstanding in character, leadership and athletics. The linked trip to New Zealand where he was an official visitor was made by ship through the Panama Canal
. Returning to the UK, he studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen
, winning a Carnegie scholarship to Northwestern University
(Chicago) in 1968, and graduating MB ChB with honours in 1969 as the most distinguished graduate of the year.
Back in Aberdeen as a senior lecturer in medicine and honorary consultant physician and nephrologist, Graeme Catto created an active renal research group studying transplant immunology, renal bone disease and the facilities required for patients with kidney disease. He graduated with a DSc in 1988. Over time, he became medical director of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, professor then dean and vice-principal of Aberdeen University.
In 1996, he became Chief Scientist for the NHS in Scotland, a member of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and then chairman of the General Medical Council's education committee. A fellow of all three medical royal colleges of physicians, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and both a founder fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and its first treasurer. For a decade from 1995 he was Chairman of the Board of Governors of Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen.
In 2000, he became Vice-Principal at King's College London and Dean of Guy's, King's College and St Thomas' Hospitals' Medical & Dental School. Knighted in 2002 for services to medicine and medical education, he became President of the General Medical Council, where he had to deal with the consequences of the Dr Harold Shipman inquiry, and Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of London at a time of major change. He was a member of the South East London Strategic Health Authority and sought to promote interprofessional education in healthcare.
In 2005 he returned to the University of Aberdeen to spearhead the successful fundraising for the Matthew Hay Centre
. At this time he was also a Governor of the Qatar Science & Technology Park. His work has been recognised by a fellowship from King's College London (2005), honorary fellowships from the Royal College of General Practitioners (2000), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2002) & Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (2008) and honorary degrees from the universities of Aberdeen (LLD 2002), St Andrews (DSc 2003), Southampton (MD 2004), Robert Gordon (DSc 2004), Kent (DSc 2007), South Bank (DSc 2008), London (DSc 2009), Brighton (DSc 2010).
He chaired the Scottish Stem Cell Network from 2008-11, chairs the Better Regulation Group for Universities UK, is President of the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME), Vice-President of the Academy of Experts and Patron of the Medical Council on Alcohol. He is a member of the Commission on Assisted Dying. and co-chairs a working party on medical and dental student numbers.
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
, FRCGP, FRCSE, FFPM, FMedSci
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
, FRSE
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who was President, later Chair, of the General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
until April 2009. He is also currently Emeritus Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and was an honorary Consultant
Consultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
nephrologist
Nephrology
Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.-Scope of the specialty:...
at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary or ARI is a teaching hospital on the Foresterhill site in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is run by NHS Grampian and has around 900 beds. ARI is a tertiary referral hospital serving a population of over 600,000 across the North of Scotland...
.
Early life
Graeme Catto was born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, the son of a local general practitioner. He attended Robert Gordon's College
Robert Gordon's College
Robert Gordon's College is a private co-educational day school in Aberdeen, Scotland. The school caters for pupils from Nursery-S6.-History:...
(Aberdeen; 1950-63), becoming school captain and gaining the Otaki Shield for the pupil outstanding in character, leadership and athletics. The linked trip to New Zealand where he was an official visitor was made by ship through the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. Returning to the UK, he studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, winning a Carnegie scholarship to Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
(Chicago) in 1968, and graduating MB ChB with honours in 1969 as the most distinguished graduate of the year.
Career in medicine
Two years later he obtained the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP UK) and developed an interest in both general and renal medicine. Research into the bone disease associated with renal failure led to an MD (Hons) in 1975 and a Harkness Fellowship of the Commonwealth Fund of New York to study medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston. While in the USA, he became interested in kidney transplant immunology and continued to publish original articles in medical journals. As part of the Fellowship commitment to "experience the American way of life" he, together with his wife and young children, travelled all round the USA in 1976.Back in Aberdeen as a senior lecturer in medicine and honorary consultant physician and nephrologist, Graeme Catto created an active renal research group studying transplant immunology, renal bone disease and the facilities required for patients with kidney disease. He graduated with a DSc in 1988. Over time, he became medical director of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, professor then dean and vice-principal of Aberdeen University.
In 1996, he became Chief Scientist for the NHS in Scotland, a member of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and then chairman of the General Medical Council's education committee. A fellow of all three medical royal colleges of physicians, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and both a founder fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and its first treasurer. For a decade from 1995 he was Chairman of the Board of Governors of Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen.
In 2000, he became Vice-Principal at King's College London and Dean of Guy's, King's College and St Thomas' Hospitals' Medical & Dental School. Knighted in 2002 for services to medicine and medical education, he became President of the General Medical Council, where he had to deal with the consequences of the Dr Harold Shipman inquiry, and Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of London at a time of major change. He was a member of the South East London Strategic Health Authority and sought to promote interprofessional education in healthcare.
In 2005 he returned to the University of Aberdeen to spearhead the successful fundraising for the Matthew Hay Centre
Matthew Hay
Matthew Hay was a Scottish doctor and champion of Public Health. He was appointed Medical Officer of Health for the City of Aberdeen in 1888, a post he held until 1923. He was also Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Aberdeen....
. At this time he was also a Governor of the Qatar Science & Technology Park. His work has been recognised by a fellowship from King's College London (2005), honorary fellowships from the Royal College of General Practitioners (2000), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2002) & Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (2008) and honorary degrees from the universities of Aberdeen (LLD 2002), St Andrews (DSc 2003), Southampton (MD 2004), Robert Gordon (DSc 2004), Kent (DSc 2007), South Bank (DSc 2008), London (DSc 2009), Brighton (DSc 2010).
He chaired the Scottish Stem Cell Network from 2008-11, chairs the Better Regulation Group for Universities UK, is President of the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME), Vice-President of the Academy of Experts and Patron of the Medical Council on Alcohol. He is a member of the Commission on Assisted Dying. and co-chairs a working party on medical and dental student numbers.
College of Medicine
In 2010, Catto was elected inaugural President of The College of Medicine, an organisation set up to bring together patients and clinicians on an equal footing.External links
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1639097.stm
- http://www.sscn.co.uk/Dept.aspx?dept_id=101
- http://www.ameinfo.com/55928.html