Martin is on stage giving a speech at the winter graduation. He is wearing the UWL official honorary robes.
Martin is on stage giving a speech at the winter graduation. He is wearing the UWL official honorary robes.

Recognising a lifelong passion for infection control – Martin Kiernan becomes an honorary Doctor of Science

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During the Covid 19 pandemic, part of the NHS response to a potentially high demand for hospital inpatient beds was to open Nightingale Hospitals in major cities. As an experienced Nurse Consultant who has specialised in infection prevention for more than 30 years, Martin Kiernan who last week received an honorary Doctor of Science from the University West London was an obvious choice to be one of the Infection Prevention Leads at the London Nightingale Hospital.  

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Martin is wearing the UWL official honorary robes, smiling at the camera infront of a wall with the UWL logo on.

Martin is Visiting Professor in Epidemiology at the University of West London’s Richard Wells Research Centre. This nurse-led facility specialises in research supporting the delivery of better health and social care for individuals and covers settings from traditional nursing environments to the care home sector. His career has also previously included working as a Nurse Consultant and as Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust.   

Additionally, he holds the posts of Conjoint Fellow at the University of Newcastle (New South Wales), Adjunct Honorary Research Fellow, Avondale University (New South Wales) and is a Clinical Consultant to infection prevention technology company GAMA Healthcare, where he advises on the current trends in infection and research and also inputs into the company’s research agenda. GAMA provides up to three scholarships a year for students studying for UWL’s MSc in Infection Control.  

A close up view of a nurse setting up a peripheral venous catheter

Martin regularly contributes to the Apple Podcast ‘Infection Control Matters’ alongside colleagues from Australia and presents at international conferences. His research on environmental hygiene, healthcare-associated pneumonia, and urinary catheter-associated infection has also featured in professional journals. 

I am delighted to present Martin with this honorary Doctorate of Science in recognition of his major contribution to the art, science and dissemination of infection control practice, and his commitment to students in the field at the University of West London,” Professor Heather Loveday, Director of Research at UWL’s College of Nursing, Midwifery, Healthcare said as she awarded him with his honorary degree.  

I cannot tell you how honoured and humbled I am to receive this award from the University of West London which is internationally recognised for furthering the science of infection prevention,” Martin told the audience on receiving his award. “To be given the opportunity to care for and support others in their moment of need is a huge privilege and it is gratifying to have that recognised in this way today.” 

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