New Head of the Wellcome Library

A new Head of the Wellcome Library has been appointed. Dr Simon Chaplin started his new position at the beginning of February.

Dr Chaplin was Director of Museums and Special Collections at The Royal College of Surgeons of England, where he managed the Hunterian Museum – an accredited public museum containing the designated collection of the surgeon John Hunter (1728-1793) – and the Wellcome Museum of Anatomy and Pathology, a modern medical teaching collection.

“I am very excited about this appointment,” explains Clare Matterson, Director of Medical Humanities and Engagement at the Wellcome Trust. “Simon demonstrated a real passion for opening up the collections in the Library – and has shown how he can successfully lead a transformation during his time at the Hunterian.”

Dr Chaplin commented: “The Wellcome Library’s collections are a fantastic resource with appeal to a wide range of audiences. I am delighted to be joining the Library, and look forward to working with staff, users and stakeholders to develop and implement the Library strategy.”

For more details on the appointment, see the Wellcome Trust’s website.