Chris Whitty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Chris Whitty
|
|
|---|---|
.png)
Whitty in 2020
|
|
| Chief Medical Officer for England | |
| Assumed office 2 October 2019 |
|
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Sally Davies |
| Government Chief Scientific Adviser | |
|
Acting
|
|
| In office 18 September 2017 – 4 April 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Mark Walport |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Vallance |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christopher John MacRae Whitty
21 April 1966 Gloucester, England |
| Education |
|
Sir Chris Whitty is a very important doctor and scientist in the UK. He was born on April 21, 1966. Since 2019, he has been the Chief Medical Officer for England. This means he is the main medical advisor to the UK government.
From 2016 to 2021, Sir Chris was the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health. He also led the National Institute for Health and Care Research. He even served as the acting Government Chief Scientific Adviser from 2017 to 2018.
Sir Chris Whitty became well-known during the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked closely with other government advisors to help the country deal with the virus. In 2022, he was given a special award, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), for his great work in public health.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Chris Whitty was born in Gloucester, England, on April 21, 1966. He was the oldest of four brothers. His father worked for the British Council, which meant the family lived in different countries. They lived in places like Nigeria and Malawi.
His father passed away when Chris was 17 years old. His mother was a teacher. Chris's grandmother, Grace Summerhayes, was also a pioneering doctor. She helped set up the first maternity hospital in Ghana in 1928.
Chris went to school in the UK. He studied at several universities, including Pembroke College, Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He earned many degrees, including in medicine and public health.
Career in Medicine and Science
Sir Chris Whitty is a practicing doctor in the National Health Service (NHS). He works at University College London Hospitals. Before becoming Chief Medical Officer, he was a professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
He has worked as a doctor and researcher in the UK, Africa, and Asia. His work focused on preventing and treating infectious diseases. He studied diseases like malaria and other illnesses common in poorer areas. In 2008, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave money for malaria research in Africa. Chris Whitty was a lead researcher for this important project.
Government Roles and Public Health
.jpg)
From 2009 to 2015, Sir Chris was the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for International Development. This department helps other countries. He led research on health, farming, and climate change.
During this time, he helped design the UK government's response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. He suggested building centers where people could go if they thought they had the disease. This helped stop the spread.
From 2016 to 2021, he was the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and Social Care. He was in charge of the department's research. He also led the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
In 2017 and 2018, he was the acting Government Chief Scientific Adviser. During this period, a nerve agent called Novichok was used in Salisbury. Sir Chris advised the government during this crisis. He became Chief Medical Officer for England in 2019.
Role During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sir Chris Whitty played a very important role during the COVID-19 pandemic. He often appeared on TV with the Prime Minister and other scientists. They explained the virus and the government's plans to the public.
He appeared in public information adverts on TV. These explained how people could help stop the virus from spreading. This included advice on social distancing.
In March 2020, he had symptoms like COVID-19 and self-isolated. He returned to work after recovering. He explained that getting rid of the disease completely in the UK would be very hard.
Sir Chris and other advisors often shared new information about the virus. They explained why stricter rules were sometimes needed to keep people safe. Many people saw him as a calm and trusted voice during a difficult time.
During the pandemic, he continued to work as a doctor. He treated coronavirus patients in a London hospital, even during holidays. He faced some challenging public interactions during this time. However, many leaders spoke out against such behavior and supported him.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Chris Whitty has received many awards for his work. In 2015, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). This was for his public service in tropical medicine. He is also a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
He has given important lectures at the Royal College of Physicians. In 2021, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Plymouth. This was for his support of medical science research.
In 2022, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB). This is a very high honor for his services to public health. In 2023, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He also received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society in 2023.
