The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, Professor Michael Farthing, has been appointed to the General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates the UK’s 250,000 doctors.

Along with six lay members, Professor Farthing, a gastroenterologist, will be one of six medical experts on a new, smaller GMC.

In what it describes as a “major milestone in reforming medical regulation”, the GMC is reducing its membership from 24 to 12 in January.

Professor Sir Peter Rubin, Chair of the GMC, said: “The move to a smaller Council is an historic change and will play a critical role in setting out a clear vision and direction for the GMC at a time of great change for doctors and patients.

“The current Council has delivered a range of major initiatives to protect patients and improve the quality of healthcare.

“I am really looking forward to working with my new colleagues as we continue to make our contribution to improving medical education and practice across the UK.”

Prior to joining Sussex in 2007, Professor Farthing was Principal of St George's, University of London, which specialises in medicine and health sciences. He was also Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Medicine for the University of London.

He is currently chair of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities and a board member of Universities UK.

Alongside these senior management roles in higher education, Professor Farthing has had a distinguished career in medicine, both as a physician and as an academic, spanning more than 30 years.

He was a member of the GMC’s Education Committee until 2008 and, that year, chaired the group that reviewed the GMC's curriculum guidance document, 'Tomorrow's Doctors'.

The GMC controls entry to the Medical Register; regulates all stages of medical education; sets standards of practice and takes action where those standards have not been met.

The new Council will start its term of office on 1 January 2013.