NHS Fife Medical Director, Dr Christopher McKenna, has been awarded an honorary professorship by the University of St Andrews, recognising his outstanding contribution to healthcare leadership and medical education in the region.
The honorary title, conferred by Scotland’s oldest university, celebrates Dr McKenna’s pivotal role in advancing clinical excellence and fostering collaboration between the two institutions.
Honorary professors at the University of St Andrews play a vital role in enriching the academic community by contributing to teaching, mentoring, and research, while also serving as ambassadors for the university’s values and mission.
Dr McKenna joined NHS Fife in 2011 and was appointed Clinical Director for Emergency Care in 2015. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, Dr McKenna became the Health Board’s medical director March 2019, a role he combines with his clinical duties as a serving consultant in acute medicine.
This recognition comes at a time of deepening collaboration between NHS Fife and the University of St Andrews. In March 2024, the two institutions signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding, formalising a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing medical education, research, and healthcare delivery across the Kingdom of Fife.
The agreement supports the delivery of the University’s new five-year medical degree programme, approved by the General Medical Council, which allows students to complete their entire medical training in Fife. This allowed students now to train alongside NHS Fife’s clinical teams in a variety of healthcare settings, whilst also promoting joint efforts in research, sustainability, and tackling health inequalities in the local population.
Dr McKenna’s appointment as honorary professor marks another milestone in a growing alliance between the two institutions and reaffirms the shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of medical staff.
Speaking on the announcement, Professor McKenna said:
"It is a tremendous honour to be recognised with an honorary professorship by the University of St Andrews.
“This professorship reflects the collective efforts of our teams across NHS Fife and the University to build a truly integrated model of medical education. This not only helps us enhance the training we can offer to students but will also help us attract more newly qualified medical staff to choose Fife when beginning their clinical careers, which ultimately benefits our patients.
“I look forward to continuing our work to improve health outcomes and inspire future generations of medical professionals."
Professor Deborah Williamson, Dean of Medicine at the University of St Andrews said: “We are delighted to award Dr McKenna an honorary professorship in recognition of his exceptional leadership and his enduring commitment to clinical education. His appointment reflects the strength of our partnership with NHS Fife and our shared ambition to deliver world-class medical training here in Fife. By working together, we are not only educating the next generation of doctors but also supporting the healthcare needs of our local communities.”
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