Professor Dame Sally Davies

Chancellor,

The role of Chief Medical Officer for England has been described as the 'toughest medical job in Britain'. If this is true, I am sure that Dame Sally Davies, who took on this role permanently in March, is the best-qualified person in the country to do it.

As chief adviser to the government on all matters relating to public health, everything comes across her desk - everything from swine flu to MMR, obesity to England's new public health service.   On such matters, Dame Sally's opinions are the ones that really matter.
She is also professional head of all medical staff in England - and as a medic, I know that maintaining harmony in such a large and diverse population could euphemistically be called 'a challenge'.

The Financial Times noted earlier this year that she is the 'first woman CMO since the post was created in the 19th century' and that she 'may also be the most powerful incumbent so far.'  This stems from the fact that Dame Sally is also the Director General of Research and Development in the NHS.  She persuaded the previous government to double investment in this area to £1 billion and convinced the current government to increase budgets in real terms up to 2014. Consider that this has happened against the backdrop of tough economic times and two comprehensive spending reviews, and you see just how good she is.

Sally was born in Birmingham into a family with a strong ethical code and a commitment to education.  This provenance is evident in her own values and character.  She is compassionate and believes in fairness. She is disciplined, highly astute, makes good decisions quickly and tackles difficult issues in a straight-forward, non-confrontational way.  Her clarity of vision is enviable.

Her husband, two children and friends are treasured and her favorite past-time is eating good food in their company, sometimes cooked by her youngest daughter who is a keen chef.  Other passions are travel, opera and music.

In 2009 she was made a Dame of the British Empire for outstanding services to medicine. She has worked hard to improve health at home and abroad, and the contribution she has made over the years to several initiatives by the WHO - the World Health Organisation - is by any measure considerable.

Asked to describe her, a friend told me: 'She's constantly learning and developing. She's pretty incredible'.  I would have to agree.
Chancellor, I am delighted to present to you for the degree of Doctor of Medicine, honoris causa, Sally Claire Davies.