The Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes | European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) has awarded its Gold Decoration of Honour to Professor Andrew Rowland, Consultant in Children’s Emergency Medicine at North Manchester Care Organisation.
Professor Rowland, who is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Salford, has headed the UK delegation to the UEMS since 2013.
The award recognises his extraordinary contributions to the work of the UEMS, especially his dedication to making sure the United Kingdom remains a full member of the organisation after Brexit, so that it can continue to focus on improving standards in medical education and training across Europe.
UEMS is the first European medical organisation to resolve this issue and it pragmatic approach, led by Professor Rowland on behalf of the British Medical Association, is seen as exemplary across the European health sector.
He was also key to the UEMS agreeing a memorandum of understanding with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges – the coordinating body for the 24 medical specialist organisations recognized in the UK.
Professor Rowland said: “I’m very honoured to have been given this award by my colleagues in the UEMS. It’s essential for medical training and research that specialists in the UK continue to work closely with our counterparts in the rest of Europe to improve specialist healthcare and I’m proud that we have arrangements in place to support this, no matter what the outcome of the Brexit negotiations will be.”
Professor Rowland will step down from his role with UEMS at the end of 2019.
