Academic Fellow in General Practice recognised with award

Academic Fellow in General Practice at the Usher Institute receives prestigious award for research.

We are delighted to share the news that Dr Kieran Sweeney, General Practitioner based in Tranent, East Lothian, and an Academic Fellow in General Practice within the Usher Institute, has been honoured with the ‘Allen and Margaret Wilson Award’. The award, bestowed biennially by the Royal College of General Practitioners’ South East Scotland Faculty, recognises and celebrates exceptional contributions to research.

The Award is made possible through the generous support of the Allen and Margaret Wilson Memorial Fund, which was established from public donations in memory of the unfortunate passing of these esteemed Innerleithen doctors in a tragic road accident on the A1 over four decades ago. The memorial fund is overseen by Rev. Fraser Edwards, Minister of Innerleithen Parish, who serves as its chairperson.

Dr Sweeney attended the Kirkin’ Service at Innerleithen Parish in July to be presented with the award.

The Usher Institute commends Dr Sweeney for his dedication to researching primary care transformation in Scotland. He conducted a study evaluating patients’ experiences of general practice in Scotland, with a focus on how recent changes to services are affecting ageing patients with multimorbidity and those living in deprived areas.

Congratulations, Kieran, on this well-deserved recognition!

I was absolutely delighted to receive this award. This research was only possibly thanks to the support of colleagues at the Advanced Care Research Centre and my supervisors Professor Mercer and Dr Donaghy.

It was an honour to be presented with the award at Innerleithen Parish, where the warmth of the community that established the award over 40 years ago is still so evident.