
Mr Michael Burdon
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Royal Victoria Infirmary and Bishop Auckland Hospital
Speaker's biography
Mr Burdon qualified from St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School in 1985. He undertook postgraduate training in medicine in Oxford, ophthalmology in Birmingham, Brisbane and London, and neuro-ophthalmology at St Thomas’ Hospital, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Moorfields Eye Hospital. In 1997 he was appointed as a Consultant in Birmingham with a remit to establish a supra-regional neuro-ophthalmology service. This service now has a world-wide reputation with seven Consultants and two Fellows, and has trained 22 Fellows from around the United Kingdom and overseas. In 2021 he moved to take up a part-time post in Newcastle and Bishop Auckland. Mr Burdon is an internationally recognised lecturer/educator with particular links to East Africa and Australia. He has delivered four named lectures, and co-authored books and book chapters including ‘The Neuro-Ophthalmology Survival Guide’. He is an examiner for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and has acted as external examiner for Aston University, Leicester University, Tumaini University, Tanzania, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the College of Ophthalmologists of East, Central and Southern Africa. Mr Burdon has undertaken clinical research throughout his career, most notably in regards to papilloedema and idiopathic intracranial hypertension and has published over 40 peer reviewed papers. Mr Burdon was appointed West Midlands Representative on the Council of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in 2010, became Vice-President and Chair of the Scientific Committee in 2014, and elected President of the College in 2017. He has held a variety of other management and leadership roles including Chairman of the NICE Cataract and Diabetic Retinopathy Guideline Development Committees, President of the Midlands Ophthalmological Society, and Treasurer and Council member of the Oxford Ophthalmological Society.