Medical experts from across the UK are gathering at the University of Leicester on Friday 23rd April in a Valedictory Symposium to celebrate the work of Professor David Taylor.
As Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Joint Head of the Reproductive Sciences Section in the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine at the University, David Taylor's pioneering focus of research has been his investigation and prevention of the childhood health and developmental consequences of maternal lifestyle and pregnancy disease, such as maternal alcohol consumption, fetal growth restriction and prematurity.
To mark Professor Taylor's contribution to Obstetrics and Gynaecology to the University and the University Hospitals of Leicester, the Valedictory Symposium on 23rd April will include internationally and nationally recognised speakers from specialties in Professor Taylor's field, as well as contributions from current academic staff in the Reproductive Science section of the University.
He will also receive tributes from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Sir Bob Burgess; Professor David Wynford-Thomas, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology and Dean of the School of Medicine; and Professor Sir Arulkumaran President of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists.
After qualifying from Newcastle upon Tyne he moved to Dundee as a Senior Lecturer in 1979 following his postgraduate Training and Research in Newcastle. He became a Reader in Dundee in 1991 and moved to the post of Professor and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Leicester in 1992. He was the second Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University.
David Taylor very quickly transformed the Department into a world class research unit attracting high quality research staff and research council grant income and fostering national and international collaborations. Within a very short period of time, Reproductive Sciences in Leicester had made its presence felt nationally and internationally.
His transformational activities were not limited to research. He radically improved the undergraduate teaching programme and examination, which resulted in Obstetrics & Gynaecology being the most popular clinical appointment for students, a status that has continued to the present day. The last GMC inspection in 2006 commended the programme.
In the clinical arena, he radically changed maternity care in Leicestershire and through his interventional and negotiation prowess, was able to equip and staff the maternity service from the weakest to a level that far exceeded that of many other teaching hospitals in the country.
He led and directed research in the department for several years to such high standards that the last two Research Assessment exercises singled out Reproductive Sciences for praise as "an area of excellence" in 2001 RAE and "particularly commended" in 2008.
He was motivational and able to support and nurture juniors. Two of his lecturers eventually rose to the post of Professors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He had the vision of organising research in the specialty into themes (an approach which the College of Medicine and Biological Sciences have now adopted) most of which made seminal contributions that changed clinical care especially in the areas of preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, urogynaecology and gynaecological endocrinology.
Through David Taylor's leadership, Leicester became the first academic institution in the UK to have an academic unit in Urogynaecology.
Professor Taylor was not only active in research but was clinical director from 1995-2000, a nonexecutive director of Leicestershire Health Authority and later Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health authority from 2002-2006, Clinical director from 2003-2008 and Vice Dean of the Medical School from 2001-2009. He led the 2001 RAE return for Unit of assessment (UoA)3 and in 2008 RAE UoA1,2,3,4 and 6.
He made significant contributions to the University including being a major player in the re-organisation of the medical school in 2003 into five departments.
Through his Clinical Directorship, he was instrumental in the establishment of subspecialty training in gynaecological oncology, fetal:maternal medicine, urogynaecolopgy, reproductive medicine and sexual and reproductive health. His vision led to the re-design of antenatal care in Leicestershire into specialised clinics and predominantly community midwifery led care- a model which has been emulated nationally.
Justin Konje, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University, said: "David came to Leicester to a Department that was not known outside the East Midlands. He left having established internationally renowned research groups, one of the best undergraduate programmes in the University and a maternity service that has led improvements in care within UK."
Professor Taylor was also a Member of the Preterm Birth Research Group, a multi-disciplinary group investigating lifestyle factors and cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the causes of preterm birth, with a view to developing treatments for the prevention of prematurity and the subsequent mortality, morbidity and disability associated with the premature birth.
The Group is particularly interested in the commonest antecedent of preterm birth, preterm prelabour rupture of the fetal membranes.
Professor David Taylor commented: "I have had a wonderful time in Leicester, working with incredibly committed and talented colleagues to address major unconquered problems of our speciality. Throughout, my colleagues gave me their unconditional support, for which I am forever in their debt. I will miss them, our students and the thrill of developing new ideas and receiving exciting results with them. I wish them and the University every success for the future"
David Field, Consultant Neonatologist, added: "David is clearly an internationally recognised and highly regarded academic clinician who in his time in Leicester was extremely influential within the University as well having a major impact on the local service. His academic work has influenced aspects of practice around the world."
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