Co Tyrone doctor receives prestigious accolade from Queen's University
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA has paid tribute to a “dedicated" doctor from Cookstown after her patient care was recognised by Queen’s University.
Dr Sandra Gray, a partner at Coagh Medical Centre, recently received the prestigious Robin Harland Prize from the Belfast-based universtiy.
The annual award recognises exceptional GP tutors and Teaching Practice teams, with nominations made by medical students after their clinical placements. These placements allow students to refine their diagnostic and patient management skills through supervised consultations.
The Health Minister paid a visit to the Urbal Road facility, where he congratulated Dr Gray on her recent success.
The Minister said: “It has been a pleasure to visit Coagh Medical Centre and meet the dedicated team who provide outstanding care for their patients.
“Their commitment to fostering the next generation of doctors is truly inspiring, and I applaud their efforts in shaping the future of healthcare and congratulate Dr Gray on her well-deserved award.”
Dr Gray, a QUB graduate from 2002, began her career at Coagh Medical Centre in 2006 as its first-ever GP trainee. She became a partner in 2010 and has been deeply committed to medical education ever since.
Commenting on the award, Dr Gray explained: “I have always loved working in Coagh, even on the challenging days. I feel incredibly fortunate to look forward to coming to work every day, supported by a fantastic team and wonderful patients.
“Teaching medical students has always been a passion of mine, and I’ve taken pride in welcoming more students into our practice over the years.”
The award was conferred following the nomination from medical student, Katie Rose McErlain, who had been on placement in Coagh.
She stated: “What stood out most during my time at Coagh Medical Centre was the remarkable patient care.
“The rapport Dr Gray had with every patient reminded me of why I wanted to pursue medicine.”
Professor Nigel Hart, Associate Director for General Practice and Primary Care at QUB’s Centre for Medical Education, highlighted the significance of the award: “Our Year 4 and final-year students nominate GP tutors based on their placement experiences, and their feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of medical education.
"The dedication of GP tutors like Dr Gray ensures that our students not only become highly competent but also compassionate doctors, ready to face the challenges of their careers.”
During the Minister’s visit to the Cookstown-based centre, he announced a new GP Sub-Deanery to support the delivery of medical education at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.
The initiative, supported by the Department of Health and led by the newly appointed GP Sub Dean, Dr Louise Sands, is a “significant development for medical education in Northern Ireland”, the Minister said.
It will oversee undergraduate clinical placements across General Practice in support of the delivery of the medical curricula offered by QUB and UU.
The Department of Health has been working closely with QUB to increase the proportion of time medical students spend in General Practice, aiming to raise it from about 7 per cent historically to 25 per cent by 2025.