Our president for 2026/2027 is Professor Tony Avery OBE, DM, FRCGP, FRCP, FBPS, FRCPharm, MFPH(Hon).
Tony is a GP at the Valley Surgery Chilwell, Nottingham, Professor of Primary Health Care University of Nottingham, and National Clinical Director for Prescribing.
He graduated in medicine from University of Sheffield in 1986, and after house jobs he came to Nottingham to join the Nottingham Vocational Training Scheme for General Practice followed by the Nottingham Community Paediatrics Rotation. He took up an academic post at the University of Nottingham in 1992 alongside a part-time partnership at the Valley Surgery, Chilwell, Nottingham.
At the University of Nottingham, he was very actively involved in medical education in his early years, and his research has focused on prescribing and patient safety where he has led several studies that have had impact on national policies and clinical practice. Tony became a professor in 2002 and has held many leadership positions at the University including Head of the Division of General Practice/Primary Care (1998-2012), Deputy Head of the School of Community Health Sciences (2000-2008), Director of Research for the School of Medicine (2013-2015) and Dean and Head of the School of Medicine (2015-2019).
At the Valley Surgery, Tony has been the lead for prescribing and patient safety for most of his time at the practice. In 2024 he stepped down from being a partner and continues working clinically at the practice on the GP retainer scheme.
Tony took up the role of National Clinical Director for Prescribing for NHS England in 2022 and has provided clinical leadership for implementing recommendations from the 2021 National Overprescribing Review, alongside various other initiatives. He is currently providing clinical leadership for the development and implementation of a Single National Formulary for the NHS in England.
In 2022, Tony was awarded an OBE for services to general practice and has received several other accolades throughout his career including the John Fry Award (RCGP) in 2008, Tony Mitchell Memorial Medal in 2009, James MacKenzie Lecturer Silver Medal (RCGP) in 2016 and NIHR Senior Investigator Award 2018.
Tony is married to Chris and they have two children: Rob (who is training to be a chartered surveyor) and Iz (who is a GP registrar). Tony enjoys all forms of cycling and has done several ‘big’ cycles over the years, including the English Coast2Coast (3 times), 500 miles around the outer and inner Hebrides (with Iz), 300 miles in Shetland and Orkney, and a charity bike ride across Massachusetts. He enjoys outdoor activities with family and friends, swimming, playing guitar and reading novels.
Tony’s chosen charity of the year is Doctors in Distress.
You can donate to the charity by clicking here
