NHS Grampian Congratulates New Year's Honours' List Staff Awards

Published: 03/01/2024 11:35

Adam Coldwells, interim chief executive of NHS Grampian today welcomed the news that two prominent members of staff had been recognised in the New Year's Honours' List. He said: "The work and the dedication that both James and Penny have shown in their careers, but most importantly to their patients, colleagues and communities, is incredible. This is a richly deserved honour for both of them. Congratulations on being wonderful ambassadors in your fields and indeed in our organisation."

James N'Dow

OBE - Professor of Urological Surgery, NHS Grampian and University of Aberdeen.

For services to Cancer and Urology, and to Voluntary Work. (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire)

Professor James N’Dow, Professor of Urological Surgery, Chair in Urological Surgery, Director of the Academic Urology Unit and co-founder of UCAN the urological cancer charity, has become an OBE for his services to advancement of the profession of urology, his related cancer research and for his voluntary clinical and academic work.

Professor N’Dow, who was also awarded the St Peter’s Medal in July by the British Association of Urological Surgeons for ‘notable contribution to the advancement of urology’ said:

“I am genuinely shocked and incredibly humbled at being recognised in this way and while the OBE may be in my name, I never work on my own. I am simply representing fantastic groups of colleagues who work tirelessly and have sacrificed so much to walk with us towards a shared purpose.

“This award is about the local businesses and ordinary citizens of Grampian who have supported our urology cancer services via the UCAN charity. It is also about the trust and friendship of colleagues I work closely with in the University of Aberdeen, NHS Grampian, across Europe, the European Association of Urology, colleagues in The Gambia and globally. Finally, this award is about family because they sacrifice the most for journeys like mine.”

An Aberdeen graduate, Professor N’Dow joined the University as a medical student in 1985 on a British Council scholarship from The Gambia. After graduating and completing basic surgical training in Aberdeen, he moved to Newcastle to do his urological surgery and research training and then returned to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the University in 2001.

Over the last 22 years Professor N’Dow has strived to establish Aberdeen as an internationally recognised centre of excellence for urological research and securing research grants and philanthropic (cash and in-kind) contributions worth more than £60 million and publishing studies in high impact science journals.

Professor N’Dow has also significantly contributed to raising the standard of care provided to patients and their families in the north of Scotland, leading major fundraising campaigns for UCAN – one of which led to Scotland’s first successful robotic surgery programme as well as one that funded a cancer centre staffed by cancer specialist nurses to support patients and their families affected by urological cancers in the North of Scotland.

As well as holding various board appointments, Professor N’Dow has never forgotten his roots – he originally intended returning to The Gambia. For more than two decades he has travelled every year initially with a team of surgeons and nurses to volunteer his services in the only teaching hospital in The Gambia, helping implement education and training programmes in gastroenterology, and more recently switched his focus to helping improve maternal and infant health programmes by supporting 6 public childbirth facilities in The Gambia together with international partners including Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Penny Gravill

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
MBE - Penelope Evelyn Hall (Penelope Gravill). Speech and Language Therapist, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

For services to the Treatment of Skull Base Tumours and Facial Palsies. (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire)

"I am very humbled by this honour. I have worked in NHS Grampian, at ARI since 1991. For 29 years, as part of the Neurosciences team, I was privileged to work with inspiring, professional and open-minded colleagues including those who made up the Skull Base team, and who supported the development of a facial palsy service; this has grown and developed to cross several medical and surgical specialities, as well as a wider community remit. To be recognised for this work in this way feels very surreal, and I'm accepting this honour on behalf of my many colleagues and the people I have had the privilege of treating and working with over the years, as much as for myself"