London mayor Sadiq Khan granted Honorary Fellowship by St George’s, University of London
London’s mayor Sadiq Kahn has been granted an Honorary Fellowship by St George’s, University of London for his support for healthcare and higher education in the capital.
The Honorary Fellowship was awarded to Sadiq last week by Professor Jenny Higham, Principal of St George’s, University of London and Non-Executive Director at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, during a degree ceremony held at the Barbican.
Born at St George’s Hospital, which shares a site with the university, Sadiq Khan has kept close ties with the healthcare specialist university throughout his time as MP for Tooting and also as Mayor of London.
Sadiq has visited St George’s many times over the years, including the opening of our main entrance, the helipad and the children’s Dragon Centre and activity area. He was the 1000th member of our membership* and has also hosted community coffee mornings at the hospital too.
He opened the university’s state-of-the-art paramedic science simulation in 2015 which recreates environments such as a nightclub fire or roadside accident to familiarise students with the real life situations they will face.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “As someone who was born and grew up in Tooting, St George’s Hospital has always been a big part of my life. I was born there, as were both my daughters, and the level of care we’ve received has always been exemplary.
“It’s been a pleasure to see the university go from strength to strength, equipping students with the skills necessary to provide excellent care to thousands of people a year while also pioneering cutting-edge technology and developing innovative ways to tackle some of the world’s greatest health challenges.
“St George’s is at the forefront of medical research: from air pollution, to cancer, to cardiovascular diseases and much more. And over the past few months, we’ve seen doctors and nurses respond to some of the greatest tragedies to hit the capital in recent times. Every day, our healthcare workers respond to a wide range of incidents and provide support to countless numbers of Londoners.
“It’s an immense privilege to receive this Honorary Fellowship today. I would like to thank St George’s for this honour and for all the vital work they do to skill up and train the doctors, nurses and biomedical scientists of tomorrow.”
Professor Jenny Higham awarding London Mayor Sadiq Khan with his Honorary Fellowship
Professor Jenny Higham said: “Sadiq Khan has always been a strong advocate for the work we do in educating healthcare professionals and scientists. We are delighted to honour him for his tireless support and the impact he has made on our local community.
“We also commend his commitment to ensuring that London remains a city where all can prosper and fulfil their dreams.”
In the citation for the honour, Professor Deborah Bowman, Vice Principal, (Institutional Affairs), said: “On each visit, Sadiq Khan has demonstrated why he is, as one of our students wrote last year “the main man”.
“His warmth, curiosity, support and interest in our work have been transformative”.
*We have over 20,000 members who represent our diverse local community and reflect the needs of our patients. If you would like to find out more about becoming a member, please click here.
