RCoA President elected VP of Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

Dr Fiona Donald, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, has been elected as one of two new Vice Presidents of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

In her additional role, Fiona is looking forward to continuing to represent anaesthetists with political and NHS stakeholders but also to working with Academy Council and the Officer team to champion the work of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties at this pivotal moment for the NHS and for healthcare workers. 

Fiona, who already represents RCoA on AoMRC Council, will take up the VP post at AoMRC in November 2022.  

She said:

'It is a great honour to have been elected by my peers to represent them as Vice-Chair of the Academy and I will do my very best to live up to that honour. Health and social care in the UK is under enormous stress from multiple factors including the pandemic and the economic difficulties the country faces.  This is seen in both the morale and wellbeing of the staff and in the experiences of patients and their families. I hope that by working closely with colleagues in the Academy I can help to provide solutions to these fundamental and very serious problems.'

Fiona succeeds Dr Edward Morris, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He and Dr Jeanette Dickson, President, Royal College of Radiologists are ending their terms as VPs. Dr Dickson is succeeded by new VP Mike McKirdy, President, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.  

Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Academy said:

'I am absolutely delighted that Fiona has just been elected as one of our Vice-Chairs. She brings a wealth of experience to our team along with great insights and ability to handle complexity. I am confident that she, along with Mike McKirdy of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, who has also been selected as a Vice-Chair, will be a great advocate for the medical royal colleges and the wider medical profession, particularly when we are facing so many serious challenges across the health and care landscape.'