Graeme Catto facts for kids

Sir Graeme Robertson Dawson Catto (born 24 April 1945) is a Scottish doctor who has had a very important career in medicine and medical education. He was the president, and later chair, of the General Medical Council until April 2009. He is also a professor of medicine at the Universities of London and Aberdeen. He worked as a specialist in kidney medicine (a nephrologist) at hospitals like Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Early Life and Education

Graeme Catto was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. His father was also a doctor. He went to Robert Gordon's College from 1950 to 1963. He was a great student, becoming the school captain and winning a special award called the Otaki Shield for being outstanding in character, leadership, and sports. As part of this award, he traveled to New Zealand by ship through the Panama Canal.

When he returned to the UK, he received a special scholarship to study medicine at the University of Aberdeen. In 1968, he won another scholarship to study at Northwestern University in Chicago, USA. He graduated from Aberdeen in 1969 with honors, being recognized as the best graduate of his year.

Career in Medicine and Research

Just two years after graduating, Graeme Catto became a member of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, showing his skill in medicine. He became very interested in both general medicine and kidney medicine. He did a lot of research into bone problems that can happen when someone has kidney failure. This research earned him a special medical degree (MD) in 1975.

He then received a Harkness Fellowship, which allowed him to study medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA. While in the US, he learned a lot about how the body's immune system reacts to kidney transplants. He wrote many articles about his findings in medical journals. As part of his fellowship, he traveled all around the US with his wife and young children in 1976 to experience American life.

Leading Medical Teams

Back in Aberdeen, he became a senior lecturer and a consultant in kidney medicine. He started a busy research group focused on kidney transplants, kidney-related bone disease, and improving care for patients with kidney problems. He earned another advanced degree (DSc) in 1988 for his scientific work.

Over time, he took on more leadership roles. He became the medical director of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, then a professor, and later the dean and vice-principal of Aberdeen University. In 1993, he joined the Harveian Society of Edinburgh, a group of medical professionals, and later served as its president in 2003.

National and International Roles

In 1996, Graeme Catto became the chief scientist for the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland. He also joined the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and became the chairman of the General Medical Council's education committee. He was recognized as a Fellow by many important medical colleges and societies, including the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Medical Sciences. For ten years, starting in 1995, he was also the chairman of the board of governors for his old school, Robert Gordon's College.

In 2000, he moved to King's College London, where he became a vice-principal and the dean of the medical and dental schools at Guy's, King's College, and St Thomas' Hospitals. In 2002, he was knighted by the Queen for his great contributions to medicine and medical education, earning him the title "Sir."

He became the president of the General Medical Council, where he helped guide the medical community through a difficult time after a serious investigation into a doctor's actions. He also became a pro vice-chancellor at the University of London during a period of big changes. He worked to encourage different healthcare professionals to learn and work together. From 2004, he was a founding member of the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), helping to ensure high standards for medical education in the Caribbean.

Later Contributions and Recognition

In 2005, Sir Graeme returned to the University of Aberdeen to lead a successful fundraising effort for the Matthew Hay Centre, a new medical facility. He also served as a governor for the Qatar Science & Technology Park.

His work has been recognized with many honors, including a fellowship from King's College London and honorary fellowships from several Royal Colleges. He also received honorary degrees from many universities, including Aberdeen, St Andrews, and London, recognizing his significant impact on education and medicine.

From 2007 to 2011, he chaired the Scottish Stem Cell Network, which supports research into stem cells. He was also president of the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) from 2009 to 2013. From 2010 to 2015, he was president of The College of Medicine, an organization that aims to make sure patients are always the most important focus in medicine and healthcare.

Sir Graeme Catto is a founding member of the board of the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners and a vice-president of the Academy of Experts. He also co-chaired a group looking at the number of medical and dental students needed from 2010 to 2012. From 2012, he became chairman of Lathallan School.