Ipswich Hospital consultant rheumatologist Dr Richard Watts awarded professorship by UEA

One of Ipswich Hospital’s most experienced and respected doctors has been awarded an honorary professorship.

Consultant rheumatologist Dr Richard Watts was given the accolade by the University of East Anglia (UEA) for his medical and academic achievements.

With a clinical career spanning three decades, Prof Watts remains as committed as ever to the continuous development of treatment for rheumatic conditions.

“I have an inherent curiosity of my field and want to try and develop and improve and gain new knowledge,” said Prof Watts.

“There are still huge gaps in the knowledge base and plenty of scope for research in the rheumatic diseases over the next 20 to 30 years.”

He added: “My key motivation is the continuous long-term follow-up of patients, as it is a chronic disease speciality. I get to see patients over a very long period of time and patient care is the fun part of my job.”

Prof Watts started at Ipswich Hospital in 1994 and was appointed a clinical senior lecturer at Norwich Medical School - based at UEA - in 2005.

He has held several other notable positions, including chairman of the Norfolk and Suffolk Clinical Research network and medical advisor to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society.

Prof Watts served as editor-in-chief of Rheumatology between 2002 and 2008.