One of world's most prominent cardiologists was presented with an Honorary Fellowship of RCSI today.

Professor Andrew Ross Lorimer was presented with the College's most prestigious honour as part of the December Postgraduate Conferring Ceremony.

Born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Professor Lorimer graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1960. Following a highly successful period as Clinical Research Fellow at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, US, Professor Lorimer returned to his native Scotland in 1963. He spent the majority of his professional life at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow where in 1970 he was appointed Consultant Cardiologist. The Glaswegian Professor was awarded an MD (Honours), by his Alma Mater in 1976 for his thesis on Cigarette Smoking, Lypolysis and Vascular Disease.

An invasive cardiologist with a special interest in preventative medicine, Professor Lorimer's many areas of expertise include the role of the heart in hypertension, the role of lipids in coronary heart disease and the management and benefits of treatment in hypertension.

A life-long researcher and teacher Professor Lorimer has contributed to 38 books and over 190 peer review manuscripts, which include a number of landmark EU Studies on the Role of Coronary Bypass Surgery in Coronary Heart Disease and the Benefits of Lowering Cholesterol in apparently Healthy People. In 1992 he became Medical Director of the Royal Infirmary and in December 2002 was elected President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He was also conferred with a doctorate of the University of Glasgow at this time. Professor Lorimer has also worked tirelessly with the Scottish Office, NHS Quality Improvement and the Greater Glasgow Health Board and was appointed Chair of the Cardiology Committee for Scotland in 2003.

For over 25 years he has participated in the teaching, training and examining in postgraduate and undergraduate medicine in the Sultanate of Oman and is particularly proud of his Honorary Fellowship the of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bangladesh, which he received in honour of his work as World Health Organization (WHO) consultant to the region in 2002.

Reading the citation for Professor Lorimer Mr Frank Keane, RCSI Council Member said: "as a Communicator, he is an effective listener and could establish close therapeutic relationships with his patients and their families. He has given a myriad of invited lectures all over the globe. As a Manager, as well as being a Medical Director and chairing many committees, he has raised and managed substantial funds for research. Organising and examining both under-graduates and post-graduates has been fundamental to the very fabric of his working life. As a Professional, not only has he been lauded in his own city but also he has been awarded seven Fellowships to Colleges of Physicians and two Fellowships to Colleges of Surgeons around the world. Alas, Mr President we are not the first!"

Professor Lorimer joins a prestigious list of Honorary Fellows of the RCSI including, amongst others: Her Excellency Mary McAleese, President of Ireland; Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela; the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta; His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Bahrain; poet and writer Professor Seamus Heaney; and Rev. Father Peter McVerry.