The current Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies has announced that she is stepping down from her duties as Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Advisor at the end of September to take up a new role.
Dame Sally has held the position of Chief Medical Officer for the past nine years and was the first female to take up the role. Prior to that, Dame Sally worked in the NHS as a consultant haematologist for over thirty years.
During her time in the medical profession, Dame Sally has been at the forefront of many notable achievements. She was the first UK practitioner to specialise in sickle cell disease. Dame Sally also played a crucial role in the development of Genomics England after creating the National Institute for Health Research and holding the role of Director General of Research and Development for the NHS.
As the Chief Medical Officer, she played an integral part in formulating the UK’s response to many health emergencies such as Ebola, Novichok attacks and Zika pandemic flu. Furthermore, Dame Sally has also led to a successful fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Dame Sally will take up her new position as Master of Trinity College, Cambridge in October 2019. This was an appointment by the Queen.
Announcing her departure, Dame Sally said; “It has been an honour to be the first female Chief Medical Officer. I have enjoyed it from the start, and I will continue to do so right up until I finish. I am delighted to be appointed as Master of Trinity College following a distinguished list of predecessors and as the first woman.”
Following the news, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said; “Sally Davies has been a dedicated public servant and a driving force for improving the health of the nation. She has led the fight against antibiotic resistance and public health risks and has pioneered world-leading action across a whole range of areas. She’s been not just England’s CMO but led thinking around the world. Sally has been an inspiration to us all and I’m sure has a huge amount still to contribute in the future.”
There will soon be an external recruitment drive to find Dame Sally’s replacement.
Image Attribution: The Royal Society
