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11 June 2019

Incredible contribution of midwife Mary Sheridan recognised with award

Midwife and lecturer Mary Sheridan's contribution and decade spanning career is recognised with a Chief Midwifery Officer’s gold award.

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, Mary Sheridan, Director of Midwifery at GSTT Maxine Spencer.
L-r: Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, Mary Sheridan, Director of Midwifery at GSTT Maxine Spencer.

Mary Sheridan, a midwifery lecturer in the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, has been recognised for her incredible service to midwifery in clinical practice, research and education, receiving a Chief Midwifery Officer’s gold award.

Mary has been a midwifery at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust for 30 years, and a lecturer at King’s for 18 years. During this time she has gone above and beyond her roles, providing excellent care, leadership and inspiration every day to colleagues, students, women and families.

The Faculty is delighted that Mary’s incredible commitment has been recognised. Alongside her work in clinical practice, she inspires the next generation of midwives and successfully bridges the gap between education and practice.

Dr Sam Basset, Head of the Department of Midwifery in the Faculty

Over her career, Mary has helped introduce initiatives which have improved the lives of mothers and babies, including being the lead midwife for the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) programme at St Thomas’ Hospital, which screens babies within 72 hours of birth for conditions relating to their heart, hips, eyes and testes. She worked with Public Health England to introduce the NIPE Smart System, which was piloted at St Thomas’ Hospital and then rolled out nationally.

Maxine Spencer, Director of Midwifery at Guy’s and St Thomas’, who nominated Mary for the gold award, said:

“Mary is truly one of a kind and her passion and drive means she is an excellent role model for others. She is a fantastic example of someone who has been able to bridge the gap between academia and clinical practice, with a successful career in both.”

Mary is one of the first people in England to receive the Chief Midwifery Officer’s gold award.

“Presenting this award to Mary recognises the outstanding contribution that she has made to the midwifery profession, maternity services and ultimately the lives of women and babies. It was an absolute privilege to honour her in this way.

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, England’s first Chief Midwifery Officer