In conversation with our alumni: Professor David Owens CBE MD FRCP

David qualified as a doctor at the Wales National School of Medicine in 1966 with distinction in Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

After graduating, David was a house officer in Medicine and Surgery at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary (CRI) and then senior house officer at Sully Hospital. David then took up a research post in the pharmaceutical industry, returning to Cardiff University Therapeutics as lecturer in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics.

David then became senior lecturer and consultant diabetologist before becoming a Professor of Diabetes at Cardiff University in the early 1990s based at Llandough University Hospital, where he carried out his clinical and research activities.

Over the years, David has published over 400 articles to include chapters in books. David was also the inaugural Clinical Director of the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service.

Since retiring in 2006, David was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor from Cardiff University. In this role, David has been involved in supporting several countries to develop their diabetes services, including Mauritius, Trinidad and Peru.

David’s most treasured memories of being at Cardiff University include: “Being a pre-clinical student in the anatomy department doing dissections; as a clinical student the first day on the ward seeing patients and visiting the various hospitals CRI, Llandough and St David’s; involvement in the rowing club and finally the day of graduation."

In the 2018 Royal College of Physicians Excellence in Patient Care Awards, David was awarded the International Award for outstanding clinical activity that contributes to excellent patient care overseas.

David said: "It’s a great honour to receive the RCP Award for my international work in the field of diabetes. Developing services including screening for diabetic eye disease, providing education on diabetic foot problems and the care of children and young people with diabetes has been a most pleasant and rewarding experience. The work involved a team of dedicated Health Care Professionals from Wales for the different sub-specialties."

David concludes: "My time in Cardiff University has been the foundation of my entire career, both nationally and internationally. Infrastructure support from IT services, the library and colleagues has been fundamental."

David’s six words describing Cardiff School of Medicine: Great, Welsh, Institution with international stature.

This is a shortened version of the full article that features in edition 29 of ReMEDy.

Read the full article