University News Last updated 22 February 2013
Professor Ian Cumming OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Health Education England (HEE) is to be honoured at a Birmingham City University graduation ceremony next week in recognition of his outstanding achievements within the NHS and support for the University’s Faculty of Health.
HEE is the organisation responsible for the education, training and development of every member of NHS staff. HEE’s purpose is to support the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvement to the patients and the public of England, by ensuring that our workforce has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place.
Ian began his career in the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist and later worked in research into coagulation disorders in the Haemophilia Centre in Manchester, before moving into general management in the late 1980s.
Ian has held a variety of NHS senior management posts, including Operating Theatre Manager at a large teaching hospital and Assistant Chief Executive to the former North West Regional Health Authority, before spending the last 18 years in CEO roles in the NHS. When Ian was first appointed as CEO in 1995, he was the youngest ever Chief Executive in the NHS.
From 2009 until 2011 Ian was CEO of NHS West Midlands - one of ten regional Strategic Health Authorities for the NHS in England. On taking up this role, Ian also became a member of the National Management Board for the NHS in England.
In late 2011, Ian was asked to take a national lead role for the NHS looking at systems and processes to ensure high quality care was delivered during the transition to the new system.
On being honoured by Birmingham City University he said: “I’m delighted to receive this honorary degree. Birmingham City University already has strong links to the healthcare profession and I look forward to seeing the University’s Faculty of Health go from strength to strength as it develops the next generation of health professionals."
Ian will be receiving his honorary doctorate at the graduation ceremony at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Monday 25 February.