Professor Jackie Taylor has taken up her new role as President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow following her election by the College's membership last year.
Professor Taylor will split her responsibilities as College President with her existing role as a working clinician. She was appointed to her current consultant post in geriatric medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1997. Professor Taylor has previously held roles as a Clinical Director, Associate Medical Director and Clinical Quality Lead for Geriatric Medicine.
Speaking as she took up her post this weekend at the College's Annual General Meeting at the College's Historic home in Glasgow, Professor Taylor praised the work of her predecessor Professor David Galloway and set out her priorities for her three-year term of office. She said: "I'd like to thank our Fellows and Members for granting me this tremendous honour. I feel very proud and also very humbled to be the College's first ever female President in our four hundred year history.
Where there are undoubtedly many challenges facing our College and our wider profession, I am sure that the next three years will present us with many more opportunities. In particular, I look forward to focussing on leading improvements to the wellbeing of our membership and helping to address the workforce challenges that are having such an impact on our work within the NHS today. At the same time, as the first woman to lead this College, I'm in a unique position to be able to ensure that our institution and profession become more inclusive, and properly representative of our profession at large.
"You can be assured at all times of my complete commitment and dedication to this work.
"I'd also like to pay tribute to the work of my predecessor, Professor David Galloway. David made a huge contribution to the College throughout his Presidency. He's led us to the successes we've seen over the past three years in developing the work and influence of the College both nationally and internationally. We owe him a huge debt.”