Dame Lesley Howard Rees DBE (born 17 November 1942) is a British professor, medical doctor, and

endocrinologist Endocrinology (from ''endocrine'' + '' -ology'') is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the integration of developmental events ...

. She was Dean of St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College (Bart’s) from 1989–95, the first and only woman to hold this post. Rees led the College to a successful merger with the London Hospital Medical College as part of

Queen Mary University of London , mottoeng = With united powers , established = 1785 – The London Hospital Medical College1843 – St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College1882 – Westfield College1887 – East London College/Queen Mary College , type = Public researc ...

in 1995. She is currently Emeritus Professor of Chemical Endocrinology at Bart's. Rees was educated at Pate's Grammar School for Girls, Cheltenham. Rees studied at Bart’s and qualified in 1965. She went on to specialise in clinical endocrinology and was appointed Professor of Chemical Endocrinology in 1980. She also became the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

's public orator, the first science graduate to hold this post. She has published more than 300 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and in 1980 delivered the

Goulstonian lecture The Goulstonian Lectures are an annual lecture series given on behalf of the Royal College of Physicians in London. They began in 1639. The lectures are named for Theodore Goulston (or Gulston, died 1632), who founded them with a bequest A bequ ...

of the

Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

. In 1984 Rees became the first woman to serve as chairman of the UK

Society for Endocrinology The Society for Endocrinology is an international membership organisation and registered charity representing scientists, clinicians and nurses who work with hormones. The Society was established in 1946, and currently has approximately 2,500 mem ...

and was awarded its Jubilee Medal in 1989. She was chair of the editorial board of the society's academic journal '' Clinical Endocrinology'' for 10 years until 2010. Rees also served as Secretary General of the International Society of Endocrinology, the first time the post was held outside the USA. In 1983, as subdean at Bart’s, Rees "was given" the task of reforming medical education. An innovative development was the building of a Clinical Skills Laboratory for medical students, nursing and midwifery training. This was modelled on a laboratory at the

University of Limburg Maastricht University (abbreviated as UM; nl, Universiteit Maastricht) is a public research university in Maastricht, Netherlands. Founded in 1976, it is the second youngest of the thirteen Dutch universities. In 2021, 22,383 students studied a ...

Maastricht Maastricht ( , , ; li, Mestreech ; french: Maestricht ; es, Mastrique ) is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Limburg. Maastricht is located on both sides of the ...

which had been shown to raise the performance of clinical skills in medical students. Rees became the first Director of Education at the

in 1997. In 2001, Rees was awarded a DBE for services to medical education. She is a niece of the conductor,

Sir Colin Davis Sir Colin Rex Davis (25 September 1927 – 14 April 2013) was an English conductor, known for his association with the London Symphony Orchestra, having first conducted it in 1959. His repertoire was broad, but among the composers with whom h ...

.BBC Sound Archives.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rees, Lesley 1942 births Living people British endocrinologists Women endocrinologists British university and college faculty deans Women deans (academic) 20th-century English medical doctors Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Pate's Grammar School