Sir Liam Joseph Donaldson (born 3 May 1949) is a British physician. He was formerly the Chief Medical Officer for England, being the 15th occupant of the post since it was established in 1855. As such, he was principal advisor to the United Kingdom Government on health matters and one of the most senior officials in the National Health Service (NHS).
In December 2009 it was announced that he planned to retire from this role in May 2010, although he said that, if the influenza pandemic should unexpectedly worsen, he would have postponed his retirement. On 1 July 2010 he was appointed the Chairman of the Independent Monitoring Board overseeing the polio eradication initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization.
In the 2002 New Year Honours List he was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his achievements in health and health care. Between 2009 and 2019 he served two terms as Chancellor of Newcastle University.
Donaldson qualified in medicine from the University of Bristol in 1972, and he did his two six-month pre-registration house jobs at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. He graduated with an MSc degree in anatomy from the University of Birmingham in 1976.
Donaldson was appointed as Chief Medical Officer in 1998. Between 1994 and 1998 he was Regional Director for the NHS Region of Northern and Yorkshire, and prior to that Regional Medical Officer and Regional Director of Public Health for the Northern Regional Health Authority. He began his career as a surgeon before training in public health.
Donaldson is visiting professor in the University of Leicester's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and also holds an honorary Chair of Applied Epidemiology at Newcastle University. In August 2009 he became Chancellor of Newcastle University, replacing Chris Patten, who stood down after 10 years in office. Donaldson retired from this role in the summer of 2019.
He is also Chair of the World Alliance for Patient Safety, which was established by the Director-General of the World Health Organization in October 2004.
As a result of his reports as Chief Medical Officer, Donaldson has had a marked effect on policy and legislation in a wide range of areas including stem cell research, quality and safety of health care, infectious disease control, patient empowerment, clinical performance, temperance legislation, medical regulation, and organ and tissue retention.
the University of Bristol (MB ChB, 1972), where he attended Wills Hall;
the University of Birmingham (MSc, Anatomy, 1976); and
the University of Leicester (MD, 1981), and he was also a lecturer in the Department of Community Health, and subsequently Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology for four years.
He has also been awarded honorary doctorates by:
the University of Huddersfield (DSc, 1998);
the University of Bristol (MD, 1999);
the University of East Anglia (ScD, 2003);
the University of Teesside (DSc, 2004);
the University of York (2004);
the University of Birmingham (DSc, 2005);