THERE’S no question, Sir Liam Donaldson is a busy man. He has been the Chief Medical Officer for England and the UK’s Chief Medical Adviser for more than a decade and is playing a major role in combating swine flu.
Now he has agreed to be the next Chancellor for Newcastle University.
Sir Liam, who will take over on August 1, said last night he is determined to take Newcastle University to a global level.
And, he is taking on an even bigger challenge – to combat excessive drinking among the university’s students.
“I am used to juggling my work,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for so long now that I’m getting quite good at it.
“Although I have some links with other universities, this is the first concrete commitment I have made. It was something I thought very carefully about.
“In the end, I decided I would be able to offer enough attention to my day job, whilst giving quality time to Newcastle, too.”
Born in Middlesbrough and with strong links to the NHS in the North East, Sir Liam will become the university’s ceremonial head, in addition to his current duties with the Government.
Newcastle University is familiar territory for Sir Liam, as he was made an honorary Professor of Applied Epidemiology there in 1989.
