Mike Stroud qualified as a doctor at St George’s, University of London in 1979 and is now a Gastroenterologist and Professor of Clinical Nutrition in Southampton. He has made many contributions to the increased national awareness of the importance of good quality nutritional care for patients and in particular was Chair of the NICE Guideline Development Groups on the nutritional care of patients and optimal intravenous fluid provision.
Service to charity and exploration
Professor Stroud is well known for his Arctic and Antarctic exploration. In 1986 he attempted to make the first unsupported journey on foot to the North Pole with Sir Ranulph Fiennes and then in the following years they made four more North Pole attempts, raising more than £2 million for charity. In 1990, he moved into full time research, focusing on nutrition, endurance and survival under extreme conditions, working at both the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine and the Army Personnel Research Establishment. In 1990, Mike and Sir Ranulph switched focus to Antarctica, breaking several records, including the first foot crossing of Antarctica – which was the longest unsupported walk in history. This raised a further £2 million pounds for charity.
On his return from the South Pole, Mike Stroud was awarded an OBE for ‘Human Endeavour and Services to Charity’ and the Polar Medal for ‘Services to Arctic and Antarctic Exploration’. In 2003 both Stroud and Fiennes completed a punishing 7x7x7 challenge, seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
In addition to his endurance and medical accomplishments, Dr Stroud also wrote two books, ‘Shadows on The Wasteland’ – documenting his crossing of Antarctica and ‘Survival of The Fittest’– examining the relationship between nutrition, exercise, health and peak performance.