Professor Eteiba is a consultant interventional cardiologist and Associate Medical Director at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital – one of the UK’s largest centres for heart and lung services – and provides critical care to patients from across Scotland.
Professor Eteiba began his three-year term of office at the College’s Annual General Meeting on Friday (6 December 2024).
The College, founded in 1599, is the UK’s only multidisciplinary royal college and has more than 15,000 Fellows and Members in 100 countries. Professor Eteiba is the first international medical graduate elected as President in the College’s history.
On taking up his new role, he pledged to preserve the College’s core values and principles and celebrate the diversity of the College community. He said: “It is the greatest honour to represent our multidisciplinary community of Fellows and Members across the world. It is through collaboration that we find our greatest strength.
“Across the UK and the world, healthcare professionals are facing significant challenges, with intense workforce pressures and high levels of ill-health in populations exacerbated by health inequalities.
“As we advocate towards change, it is vital that we continue to listen – and hear – the views and experiences of physicians, surgeons and healthcare professionals, and look after their wellbeing.
“I intend to build on the success that we have already shown as a College and connect with Members at all career levels. It is vital that we reach out and inspire the next generation, to open our doors and engage with our College community on the issues that matter to them most.”
Professor Eteiba has served the College for more than 20 years, most recently as its International Director, and previously as Vice-President (Medical). He is an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences and is a past president of the Scottish Cardiac Society.
He has been a consultant interventional cardiologist for more than 25 years and was appointed to lead the development of the interventional cardiology specialty in the West of Scotland. Originally from Cairo, he studied medicine at Al-Azhar University.
Among the new President’s first engagements was Founder’s Day – the 425th anniversary of the founding of the College – at Glasgow Cathedral on Sunday (8 December). Professor Eteiba laid a wreath on the grave of Maister Peter Lowe, a Scots surgeon and founding Member in 1599.
He said: “For 425 years, our College has been a community of innovators and has played a major part in the development of modern healthcare. Our membership has included our founder Peter Lowe, who published the first complete guide to surgery written in English, Joseph Black, whose discovery of latent heat paved the way for thermodynamics, Joseph Lister, who discovered the use of carbolic acid as an antiseptic in surgery, and Jamini Sen, our first female Fellow who championed women doctors.
“Today, our Fellows and Members continue to shape healthcare for the patients and communities they serve. As we move into our next chapter, I look forward to working with them to ensure their voices are heard.”