Sir Francis Atherton is a British physician who is the Chief Medical Officer for Wales.

Background

Atherton is originally from

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

, England. He graduated from the

University of Leeds , mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased , established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds , ...

in 1982 and became a consultant in public health medicine in 1997.

Career

Atherton was formerly deputy chief medical officer in the Department of Health and Wellness in

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

, Canada, director of public health in north

, and president of the UK Association of Directors of Public Health. He was appointed as Chief Medical Officer for Wales in April 2016, following the retirement of the previous postholder, Dr

Ruth Hussey Ruth Carol Hussey (October 30, 1911 – April 19, 2005) was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in '' The Philadelphia Story''. Early life Hussey was born in Providence, Rhode I ...

. During the

COVID-19 pandemic in Wales The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Wales on 28 February 2020, with a case being reported in the Swansea area; this first known case was a person who had recently returned from Italy. The first known case of community transm ...

, Atherton said that he was attempting to reduce the risk of transmission by taking "all appropriate measures". Atherton was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to public health.

References

External links

* Living people Alumni of the University of Leeds British public health doctors Chief Medical Officers for Wales Year of birth missing (living people) Knights Bachelor Medical doctors from Lancashire 21st-century English medical doctors {{UK-med-bio-stub