University News Last updated 19 January 2010
Mark Goldman, Chief Executive of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, will receive an honorary doctoral degree from Birmingham City University next week.
With a career spanning more than three decades and more than 20 years as a driving force in improving the patient experience, Mark will receive his award in recognition of his outstanding achievements within the National Health Service.
After qualifying in medicine in 1974, Mark held research and clinical academic posts within the West Midlands NHS, followed by a research position at the University of Birmingham from 1979 to 1981.
During his early career, Mark specialised in vascular surgery and also established a grant-funded basic science laboratory and research programme. He used his experience in general and gastrointestinal surgery to introduce new techniques to his work at East Birmingham Hospital while holding a senior lecturing post at the University of Birmingham.
A strong advocate of patient-centred care, he took on his first directorial role in 1993 as Medical Director of surgery for Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and Solihull NHS Trust before embarking on the role of Chief Executive of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in 2001.
Mark has led the Trust through the acquisition of further hospitals, achieving the first acquisition in the NHS of a failing trust, and seen it awarded such accolades as the Acute Healthcare Organisation of the Year Award, the highest achievable Monitor ratings and NHS Beacon status.
In 2005 Mark took on an additional role as Chief Executive of the troubled Good Hope Hospital. He led its turnaround, increasing its performance ratings and succeeding in turning its deficit of £6 million in to a surplus of £1.7 million.
Among his other achievements, Mark has contributed to the 10-year NHS Modernisation Plan, as well as publishing key papers on System Reform and sitting on numerous Department of Health committees.
His award is due to be conferred at 10.45am on Tuesday 26th January at the Awards Congregation ceremony in Symphony Hall which will celebrate the work and achievements of students graduating from the Faculty of Health.
Added by Chris Davies on January 19, 2010