Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, member of Notfast running club, to step down as Deputy Chief Medical Officer in March 2022
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, a member of Newark's Notfast running club, will step down as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England at the end of March 2022 to take up a new role at the University of Nottingham.
Professor Van-Tam, who joined the Department of Health and Social Care on secondment from the University of Nottingham in 2017, will return to be the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
As the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Health Protection, Professor Van-Tam has played important roles in a number of different incidents — including domestic outbreaks of MERS and Monkeypox, 2017/18 influenza season and most notably the response to the Novichok attacks and the covid-19 pandemic where he worked on the vaccine taskforce and supported the development of treatments.
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam said: "My time as Deputy Chief Medical Officer have been the most challenging of my professional career, especially the covid response. We all wish covid had never happened. Notwithstanding, it has been the greatest privilege of my professional career to have served the people of the UK during this time.
"I want to pay tribute to Professor Chris Whitty, the CMO team, my fellow scientists, public health professionals and clinicians whose support, wisdom and energy has been inspiring.
"There are countless numbers who work behind the scenes — all of whom have an unrelenting commitment to help and support the British public. It has been an honour to work with them all.
"I will continue to work until the end of March and look forward to the next challenge."
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "It has been an honour to work side by side with Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam and I am hugely grateful for his advice and guidance since I became Health and Social Care Secretary.
"JVT’s one-of-a-kind approach to communicating science over the past two years has no doubt played a vital role in protecting and re-assuring the nation, and made him a national treasure.
"I pay tribute to his relentless work ethic, sense of public duty and leading role in our incredible vaccination programme — on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care I wish him the best of luck on his return to the University of Nottingham."
Professor Chris Whitty said: "Professor Van-Tam has been an outstanding Deputy Chief Medical Officer and public servant. I am profoundly thankful for his steadfast support, advice, leadership and commitment. His communication of public health advice and science has been remarkable."
University of Nottingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said: "All of us at the University are incredibly proud of Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam’s work as Deputy Chief Medical Officer, in which he has played a major role in steering the nation through the covid-19 pandemic.
"I am delighted that Jonathan is returning to Nottingham to join our executive team and lead our renowned Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences as its next Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
"His academic and leadership expertise is second to none, and the integrity that he has demonstrated in his government role is fully aligned to our values. I know that he will take our university’s reputation for excellence in medicine and health sciences to new heights."
