Devaka Fernando

Professor Devaka J S Fernando MBBS MSc MD FRCP FCCP FCGPSL was a Sri Lankan physician and academic between 1990 and 2004. President of the Osteoporosis Society of Sri Lanka and Foundation Professor of Medicine at University of Sri Jayawardanapura.

Devaka Fernando was educated at Dean Row School Cheshire UK, Shore Country Day School Beverly Mass USA, S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia Sri LankaFernando qualified from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.

Fernando obtained a postgraduate Doctor of Medicine degree and Membership of the Royal College of Physicians, trained at the University of Manchester in Public Health (Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology) and received higher medical specialist training at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Fernando was consultant physician in Diabetes and Endocrinology department in Sri Lanka at the Sri Jayawardanapura General Hospital, Senior Lecturer Faculty of Medicine University of Colombo. Foundation Professor of Medicine at University of Sri Jayewardenepura Faculty of Health Sciences, First coordinator for the endocrinology training programme for the Board of Study in Medicine at Postgraduate Institute of Medicine at the University of Colombo from 1998 to 2004, project manager for the World Diabetes Foundation Project in Sri Lanka, editor and Vice President of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka, and was founder director Sri Lanka Twin Registry., Fernando was a founder member of the Board of Study in Medical Administration at the PGIM Colombo, and was involved in specialist training of doctors in Sri Lanka through the Royal College of Physicians. and is mentioned in connection with efforts to prevent discrimination against people with diabetes. Health policy advisory roles on a World Bank Project and engaging the media in diabetes carethrough the media group the Diabetes Forum. Fernando was Secretary in 1995 and 1997 , Treasurer in 1998 and Vice President in 2000 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Secretary (1993–1996) and Treasurer (1997–1998) Ceylon College of Physicians, founder President Osteoporosis Society of Sri Lanka (later named Osteoporosis Sri Lanka)from 2000 to 2004, Editor (1994–1995) and Treasurer (1996–2000) of the Endocrine Society of Sri Lanka, member national task force for eradication of rabies, founder committee member of the National Stroke Association of Sri Lanka, and the advisory panel for the Brain Research and Neuroscience Centre

While working in Sri Lanka Fernando held clinical and research fellowships and senior research fellowships at University of Manchester, Visiting Professorships with the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and University of Sheffield an Honorary Professorship at Sheffield Hallam University and later emigrated to the United Kingdom.

Publications

Grants

Fernando has been applicant or co applicant in grants received from The Wellcome Trustand World Diabetes Foundation.

Fernando has been awarded academic honours by The Ceylon College of Physicians (PB Fernando Gold Medal and Cyril Fernando Gold Medal), the Sri Lanka Medical Association, (Sir Nicholas Attygalle Gold Medal,), the Kandy Society of Medicine (Seneka Bibile Gold Medal and the Kandy Society of Medicine Gold Medal Oration) the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka (Gunasiri Memorial Oration Gold Medal and Cyril Vaz Memorial Gold Medal Oration) Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka (Sir Frank Gunasekera Gold Medal Oration) the Andhra Pradesh Diabetes Federation (M Viswanathan Gold Medal) and with coworker Victor Hettigoda received a presidential award for research. Fernando was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka, Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians London and Edinburgh and Fellowship of the Ceylon College of Physicians.

Fernando was chairman of the charity Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Trust based in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Ratmalana Sri Lanka between 1990 and 2004, assisted in disaster relief following the boxing day tsunami in Sri Lanka. and was associated with setting up a renal dialysis unitand transit homefor patients and families attending University of Sri Jayewardenepura Faculty of Health Sciences and its Teaching Hospital in 1998as well as setting up computer servers linking The John Pease Diabetes Centre at Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham to centres in Sri Lanka to help education and training in Sri Lanka .

Fernando was a school prefectwon colours in rugby and athletics (second in 400 metres junior National AAA championships 1973), in addition to being active in classical, English debating, drama and classical societies. and represented the school in the Royal-Thomian rivalry in Rugby Union, in the S Thomas College 1st XV Rugby Team 1975 coached by Quentin Israel, later described as the best Thomian team by sports journalist Sharm de Alwis. He was reputed to be a "lightning fast winger and champion athlete" .

Fernando was editor of the students union and Captained the Rugby team at University of Colombo scoring two tries in beating CH& FC Kabaragoyas, He placed second at the Junior National AAA championships in the 400 metre Hurdles event in 1976 and represented CH&FC rugby club in the First Division tournament in 1981. He competed in a 5 km races i.

He has coached rugby teams in Sri Lanka and the UK

Fernando moved to the United Kingdom in 2005 where he has been Consultant Endocrinologist, Head of the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust at King's Mill Hospital. a member of the foot team, Associate Medical Director for Clinical Governanceand member of a trial steering committee. Together with his colleague Professor George Thomson and in collaboration with the Thyroid Association he has delivered public lectures.

Fernando is a governing Body board member of the Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group, Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, and a member of The Diabetes Think Tank a parliamentary advisory group.