University News Last updated 18 February 2011
Cynthia Bower, the Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission is to receive an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University in recognition of outstanding achievements within the NHS.
She will receive her honour at one of this year’s University graduation ceremonies on Monday 21 February at 10.45am at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
After graduating from university, Ms Bower began her professional life in social care. She spent a number of years working with children in a variety of settings and managing social care services for children. She moved to the Health Service in 1995 to work for Birmingham Health Authority, working as Director of Primary Care at the time of the establishment of Primary Care Groups and the first wave of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
In 2000 she became Chief Executive of Birmingham Specialist Community Health NHS Trust and in 2002 Chief Executive of South Birmingham PCT. At that time South Birmingham was the largest PCT in the country, commissioning for almost 400,000 patients and providing a wide range of local, city-wide and regional Services.
In August 2005 she became Managing Director of Birmingham and the Black Country SHA and in July 2006 she became Chief Executive of NHS West Midlands.
In July 2008, Cynthia Bower was appointed Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission, which took up its duties as the regulator for health and social care on 1 April 2009. Cynthia, who still lives in Birmingham, said: "I am delighted and honoured to be the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University. It is humbling to be recognised by my home town in this significant way."