Ahead of Year of the Nurse 2020, world renowned medical institution recognises contribution of outstanding nurse leaders

The Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has conferred ICN Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton and Professor Jane Salvage, Director of ICN’s Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI), as Fellows for their outstanding service to the nursing profession.

Mr Catton and Professor Salvage were amongst a group of nurse leaders who received the fellowship at a ceremony at the RCSI headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, on December 9. The award ceremony was held ahead of the Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020 that will demand more government investment in nursing leadership.

RCSI Fellowships are awarded to candidates in recognition of outstanding work and/or exceptional leadership in the profession of nursing/midwifery, those who have given significant service to the profession or to the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, and those who have positively influenced and impacted on health and society.

Executive Director of the college’s Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Thomas Kearns said of the prestigious award:

“It was my great honour to nominate Mr Howard Catton for this Fellowship for his distinguished career nationally in the UK and subsequently globally as Director of Nursing and Policy and latterly as CEO of ICN; in particular in recognition for his global leadership contribution to health policy and the positioning of the voice of nursing at policy decision making tables, locally, nationally regionally and globally.”

Mr Catton thanked Professor Kearns and the Dean of the Faculty Dr Theresa Frawley for conferring the award and said:

“Along with my other nursing colleagues, on behalf of ICN and the global nursing family I am honoured and delighted to receive this fellowship from one of the world’s most respected providers of health professions education. We are a profession on the move and increasingly in the spotlight: it is wonderful to celebrate this accolade and we must now continue to make an impact on healthcare and deliver change during next year’s 2020 Year of the Nurse celebrations and beyond.”

Professor Salvage said:

"It was a proud moment receiving this prestigious fellowship alongside Howard, GNLI alumna Charlotte McArdle who is now the Chief Nursing Officer of Northern Ireland, and other global nursing leaders: a triple accolade for ICN!"