A FORMER Teesside GP has been appointed Durham University's first Dean of Medicine.

Professor Amritpal (Pali) Hungin will take up the full-time appointment on March 1 at the Queen's Campus in Stockton, where the university runs a medical programme with Newcastle University.

Professor Hungin holds a number of high-profile roles including chairman of the National Health Service Research and Development Forum and founder and director of Northern Primary Care Research Network.

In 2000 he was awarded the OBE for services to research in general practice.

Professor Hungin has 23 years experience as a GP at Eaglescliffe Health Centre in Stockton and his interests include clinical care and the prevalence of disease.

The post, in the university's faculty of social sciences and health, has been established to consolidate and strengthen the university's developments in medical education, research and clinical practice.

Vice-Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: "The university is delighted that such a distinguished and respected clinician has accepted the new post as Dean of Medicine."