Dr Maria Dyban, Dr Dominic Horne, Dr Henry Smithson and Dr Alena Chong

Alongside seven other clinicians, NICE fellowships have been awarded to: London GP Dr Alena Chong (a clinical teaching fellow at University College London), Dr Dominic Horne (lead GP and clinical services director at Worcester Walk-In Health Centre), Dr Henry Smithson (an academic GP at the University of Sheffield’s medical school) and Dr Maria Dyban (a salaried GP for Aneurin Bevan Health Board’s out-of-hours GP service in Pontypool, south Wales).

Announcing the appointments, alongside 10 scholarships, NICE said awards were made ‘to individuals who support NICE’s work and aspire to improve care in their local and professional communities’.

Commenting on the announcement, Val Moore, programme director for implementation at NICE and mentor to the fellows and scholars, said: ‘Our Fellows and Scholars Programme is a unique opportunity for motivated and dynamic individuals across the country to exchange ideas and get support from NICE in driving up the quality of care in their local and professional communities’.

The fellowship positions are unpaid and undertaken alongside existing jobs and other professional responsibilities.