He became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1921 (proceeding to the Fellowship in 1926), graduated and awarded a Gold Medal for his M.D.

[11] He played an important role in upgrading, modernising and broadening the hospital teaching facilities within Edinburgh area.

[3] Doctors he has been a teacher to include John George Macleod,[12] Professor Ronald Haxton Girdwood who discovered the link between folate deficiency and Megaloblastic anemia,[13] Sir John McMichael,[14] a pioneer in the field of Cardiology whose works formed the basis of the treatment of cardiac diseases in Britain,[15] and Harold Thomas Swan, who discovered and published two case-notes recording the successful clinical use of penicillin in 1930.

[16] Davidson was a member of the Empire Rheumatism Council, now known as Arthritis Research UK, and has made significant contributions to developments in the field of Rheumatology.

[5] He is buried in the ancient stone vault of his ancestor, George Davidson of Newmills, in Currie churchyard, near his family home.

His lecture notes that he had previously distributed to students while working in the University of Edinburgh formed the basis of this publication.

[3] The book is now in its 24th edition, is considered a standard text for undergraduate medical students, and has sold over two million copies altogether.