A leading consultant who is celebrating 40 years of service to the NHS told how his passion has been helping to train the next generation of doctors.
David Marshall started working as a Junior House Officer at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in August 1984 after graduating from University of Glasgow.
Following this he worked in Glasgow and Manchester, becoming Consultant Rheumatologist at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in 1993.
In 2016 he moved to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow to become a Consultant in Acute Medicine. He moved to the RAH’s Acute Medicine Department in 2021 and continues to see patients requiring emergency care.
Throughout his career, David has helped train and educate young doctors with spells as a Postgraduate Tutor and Associate Postgraduate Dean for Medicine for NHS Education for Scotland, becoming Head of the School of Medicine for Scotland from 2016 to 2022.
David, 62, said: “I’ve been involved in medical education the whole way through.
“For 20 years training new doctors and bringing them along their career path has been my passion. I’ve loved that aspect of my job.
“The best part of my job has without a doubt been teaching young medical students and doctors, all the way through.
“That’s the bit that keeps you young, interested and motivated.
“I can honestly say, I have never in 40 years got up in the morning and thought, I can’t face going to work. I really love it.”
David is currently the Deputy Medical Director of the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians, writing curricula and monitoring standards throughout all specialties across UK. He is now applying to become the Federation Medical Director for Training, a post he would hold for three years, which he says would be the “pinnacle” of his long and successful career.
Last week, staff at the RAH presented him with a gift, card and cake to celebrate his special milestone, and he also received a Gold badge from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chief Executive Jane Grant.
On the same day, a new tranche of junior doctors were being inducted to start work at the same hospital.
He said: “It was incredibly kind of the nurses and staff to organise a presentation for me – I really wasn’t expecting it.
“It felt like a nice moment to be celebrating my 40 years while new junior doctors were starting their very first day with the NHS.”
David, who is originally from Paisley, also told how he enjoys working at the RAH as it is close to home and his family.
