Dr Donald Gibb was born and educated in Scotland, graduating in Medicine at Edinburgh University. Based at Kings College Hospital London he specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology, gaining further knowledge and experience by spending one year in Africa and more than two years in Singapore.

He is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists having been awarded the gold medal in 1980. He was made a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1981 and a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1991.

On his return from Singapore in 1984 he was appointed Consultant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kings College Hospital London. In 1990 he was awarded an MD from Edinburgh University for research work done in Singapore on labour and delivery.