Plenary
Chair, Ian Godber, Bernie Croal
Dr Myers has recently retired as a consultant Clinical Biochemist, and Laboratory Director of Clinical Biochemistry at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK. Whilst at Preston Dr Myers has introduced a continuous program of Pathology redesign, improving the clinical and operational effectiveness and productivity of pathology. He set up the Point of Care Testing Team, which he led for 30 years, introducing POCT throughout the whole Health Economy of Central Lancashire. During this time, he was the Associate Divisional Medical Director of Pathology for 4 years, Clinical Director of Pathology for 14 years, Lead Scientist for over 10 years.
Dr Myers remains the Co-Clinical Lead for the NHSE Pathology Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme, which has undertaken an evidenced-based review of Pathology services in England in order to improve quality and reduce unwarranted variation. The National Report was launched in 2022 and the GIRFT Clinical Team is now working on implementing the recommendations, including the effect of pre-analytical variables on results, and identifying what are the Analytical Performance Specifications for Decision Diagnostics such as HbA1c, PSA, CA125 etc. Recently, Dr Myers co-led a National investigation into the clinical effect of IVD performance. This has resulted in many recommendations and with a small group of colleagues, the Patient-Focussed Laboratory Medicine group has been formed to ensure that Laboratory performance is directly linked to Clinical effect.
Ian trained in Clinical Biochemistry in Dundee and Nottingham, then moved to NHS Lanarkshire initially as a Principal biochemist, and was later appointed to a post as Consultant clinical scientist and Clinical lead, where he developed an interest in laboratory processes and IT.
He was the Clinical lead for the Scottish Clinical Biochemistry Managed Diagnostic Network from 2016-2020. He moved into his current role as Consultant clinicalsScientist and Lead clinician in Biochemistry at the QEUH in Glasgow in 2020.
Ian has been a senior examiner in Clinical Biochemistry for the Royal College of Pathologists for a number of years. In 2025 Ian took up the role of President of the Association for Laboratory Medicine and will be the Congress president for EuroMedLab when it is held in London in 2027.
Bernie graduated in Honours Physiology (1989) and Medicine (1992) from Glasgow University and went on to train in General Medicine (FRCP 1998) and Clinical Biochemistry (FRCPath 1999). He moved to Aberdeen to take up an academic Senior Lecturer post in Health Services Research, obtaining an MSc (2000) and MD (2003) degree in Public Health and Health Services Research.
Over the last 15 years he has filled many roles at RCPath including Chairs of Scottish Council, the Clinical Biochemistry SAC, the Informatics Committee, the National Laboratory Medicine Catalogue and the Quality Assurance Management Group. He was RCPath Vice-President (2011-14) and has been a member of Council/Exec for 15 years, as well as a member of both ACB, ACP and IBMS Councils. He was President of The Association for Laboratory Medicine from 2021-2023. He is RCPath President from 2023-26.
