Professor Chris Whitty awarded Honorary Doctorate by Plymouth University
He said it was “an honour” to receive the degree
Last updated 24th Sep 2021
Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer and a key figure in the UK’s battle against Covid-19, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Plymouth.
He was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Medicine by the University’s Chancellor, Lord Jonathan Kestenbaum, at a graduation ceremony on Thursday.
The award was to recognise his support for the University’s medical science research community, including his contributions to Clinical Research Network South West conference and to the Faculty of Health.
Paying tribute to Professor Whitty, Vice-Chancellor Professor Judith Petts CBE said it was an “honour to be able to thank him on behalf of the University and the region.”
She added: “As with our other selected honorary doctorates, it is an opportunity to not only pay tribute to their outstanding achievements, but to create opportunities for future engagement that will benefit our students, our civic mission and our communities.”
Professor Whitty has been one of the faces of the pandemic in the UK, appearing at dozens of press conferences in Downing Street to announce and explain Covid restrictions.
Speaking after the event, Professor Whitty said:“It was an honour to receive a degree with University of Plymouth students graduating in medicine and health sciences, many of whom have been working to combat Covid-19 as well as completing their studies.
“This generation of students have had a particularly hard last two years and have responded remarkably.
“It was also an opportunity to celebrate the great medical research the university conducts which will improve health in the future.”
Another leading public figures honoured at the ceremony included Emmy-nominated oceanographer Philippe Pierre Cousteau, senior lawyer Lord Terence Etherton, and the Bishop of London the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE.