NHS Shetland’s Consultant Physician and Associate Medical Director (Acute), Dr Pauline Wilson, has been recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
NHS Shetland’s Consultant Physician and Associate Medical Director (Acute), Dr Pauline Wilson, has been recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
Pauline has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contributions to medicine. This recognition highlights her dedication as a Consultant Physician at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, her significant role in advancing the work of The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and her lifelong commitment to healthcare in remote and rural communities.
Reflecting on the honour, Pauline said: “I was completely surprised and deeply humbled to receive this honour. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about delivering the highest standard of care to patients in remote and rural areas and ensuring robust training for future clinicians.
“This recognition underscores the value of rural medicine, and I hope to use it to elevate the profile and importance of being a remote and rural clinician. It would be a wonderful outcome if this honour encourages others to see the incredible opportunities and impact of working in remote and rural settings. It truly is a privilege to be part of this field.”
Pauline, a Consultant Physician, is known for her contributions to rural healthcare and medical education. She holds several key roles, including Associate Medical Director (Acute) and Director of Medical Education for NHS Shetland, Associate Postgraduate Dean for Remote and Rural Credentialing for NHS Education For Scotland (NES), and Rural Advisor to the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh.
Born and raised in Shetland, Pauline first pursued a degree in Biochemistry before studying medicine at Aberdeen University. She completed her training in general internal medicine at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, with additional placements at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Around 20 years ago, Pauline returned to the islands to serve as a Consultant Physician, specialising in diabetes care. Alongside her clinical work, she is deeply dedicated to teaching and training clinicians, equipping them to tackle the unique challenges of rural medicine. Her strong commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare has been instrumental in improving care for rural communities.
In 2016, she was also awarded the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh’s inaugural William Cullen prize for excellence in teaching/service innovation. The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh has Members and Fellows all over the world, but the prize particularly recognises excellence at a local level in Scotland.
She currently holds the position of Associate Postgraduate Dean for Remote and Rural Health at NHS Education for Scotland (NES). Appointed in September 2020, she has been instrumental in developing and leading initiatives to support healthcare professionals working in remote and rural settings. Her work includes creating a curriculum and governance framework for the Credential in Remote and Rural Health (Unscheduled and Urgent Care), which was endorsed by the General Medical Council in 2022 and began being awarded to rural doctors in 2024.
In addition to her role at NES, Pauline serves as the Director of Medical Education for NHS Shetland. In this capacity, she is responsible for ensuring high standards of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training within the NHS Board, collaborating closely with postgraduate deans to ensure that trainers and trainees are well-prepared and fit to practice.
Chief Executive Brian Chittick said: “On behalf of the Board, I want to congratulate Pauline on this well-deserved recognition. Her exceptional dedication to remote and rural healthcare has had a profound impact in Shetland and across Scotland.
“Pauline has been instrumental in advancing rural medicine, training and inspiring the next generation of clinicians, and ensuring the sustainability of high-quality care in our region. She is a pioneer of the rural generalist role, combining expertise with compassion to support both patients and the vital lifeline services of remote communities.
“Pauline’s work exemplifies the very best of what it means to serve in remote and rural healthcare, and this recognition is a testament to her remarkable contributions.”