A consultant ophthalmologist at the James Paget University Hospital has been elected president of the national organisation which represents his profession.
Professor Ben Burton will become the new President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists next year after securing the most votes in an election involving seven candidates.
The college formally announced Prof Burton’s election last week.
“I am absolutely delighted but the news still hasn’t really sunk in,” said Prof Burton, who is the JPUH’s Clinical Research and Development Director and an Honorary Professor at the UEA, and trains students from Norwich Medical School.
“Colleagues have been so supportive - and it has been so nice to receive messages of congratulation not just from ophthalmologists locally but across the world,” he said. “I am sure it will help put both the James Paget and Norwich Medical School on the map.”
Each of the seven candidates held hustings; Prof Burton’s election pitch focussed on investment to ensure sustainability of NHS ophthalmology services, which chimed with many of the 4000 college members who were eligible to vote in the election.
Prof Burton will take over from the current President, Professor Bernard Chang, at the college’s AGM in May next year.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists represents the ophthalmic profession in the United Kingdom and supports overseas members in developing countries. It is considered the voice of the profession.
Prof Burton studied at Cambridge University then trained in Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital before moving to James Paget University Hospital in 2007. He is actively involved in research studies for Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinal Vein Occlusions and runs the Macular Degeneration service at the hospital, which he set up in 2008.