Professor Peter Winstanley, Dean of Warwick Medical School, has been appointed as President of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH). Founded in 1907, the RSTMH facilitates research and education in tropical medicine and provides opportunities for people to present research findings and discuss topical issues. It is widely regarded as the foremost scholarly society of Tropical Medicine in Europe.

Professor Winstanley takes up his role alongside Professor Steve Ward, Deputy Director of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who will be Vice President, and both are looking forward to their two year term of office with great enthusiasm.

They said:"RSTMH has a vital role in the UK. It encompasses a wide range of scientific disciplines, from molecules through to policy, and has an advocacy role for an area of academic pursuit in which the UK excels. We look forward to working with the Society's Chief Executive, Gerri McHugh, in presenting a new Governance Framework to the Society in December.”

Speaking about opportunities for the University, Professor Winstanley said:"In my 16 months at Warwick I have continually been impressed by the range of cross-campus collaborations, and the ease with which these form. I think that a wide range of Warwick departments could collaborate to make enormous contributions to the arena of tropical medicine and hygiene."

Warwick's Vice-Chancellor, Nigel Thrift, added:"We are delighted to hear of Professor Winstanley’s new role as President and look forward to hosting the RSTMH’s next residential meeting here at Warwick in late 2012."