Personal Profile
Professor Morton qualified from Glasgow University where he also completed his MD thesis. His training posts were predominantly in the Glasgow teaching hospitals, but he has also held posts in Dundee and Edinburgh.
He has been a Consultant Dermatologist in NHS Forth Valley based in Falkirk, and now Stirling since 1996 where he has been clinical lead for over 10 years. He is also Clinical Lead for skin cancer in NHS Forth Valley and has been active in research particularly for skin cancer therapies, including photodynamic therapy. He has undertaken private practice clinics in Scotland for over 20 years, covering skin, hair and nail conditions, focused on identifying the best approach to patient-centred care.
Professor Morton has authored over 75 scientific publications and 10 book chapters. He is co-author of U.K., European and International guidelines for best practice in skin cancer.
He is national Dermatology advisor to the Chief Medical Officer (Scotland), a past President of the Scottish Dermatology Society and current member of the British Association of Dermatologists’ Clinical Services Committee.
Professor Morton can treat a wide range of conditions, in particular:
- Acute and chronic skin conditions: acne, dermatitis and psoriasis
- Investigation of dermatitis by patch testing (performed on site)
- Removal of skin lesions - if diagnostic uncertainty, or where atypical appearance is raising suspicion of skin cancer
- Removal of skin lesions that are subject to trauma, causing discomfort or cosmetic concern
- Photodynamic therapy and other non-surgical options for early skin cancer/sunshine damaged skin
- Mole review and monitoring by digital imaging and dermoscopic examination
- Viral warts that fail to respond to topical therapy - curettage and cryotherapy can achieve marked improvement
- Disorders of hair and nails
Professor Morton performs topical photodynamic therapy on site, an innovative treatment that uses a special photosensitizing cream activated by an intense red light to selectively target superficial skin cancers – actinic keratoses, Bowen’s disease, and early basal cell carcinomas, avoiding the need for surgery in many patients. Professor Morton has published extensively on this topic and is Board Member of Euro-PDT, a group of clinicians focused on delivering safe and effective practice in photodynamic therapy for skin cancer and in assessing its place in therapy in several emerging novel indications.
