Sir Francis Atherton is a British physician who served as the Chief Medical Officer for Wales from 2016 to 2025.

Background

Atherton is originally from

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, England. He graduated from the

University of Leeds The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed Y ...

in 1982 and became a consultant in public health medicine in 1997. Atherton who is 65 years of age, has contributed many years of hard work to the public service.

Career

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

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

, 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, Rho ...

. 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 transmi ...

, 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 a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

in the

2022 New Year Honours The 2022 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

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