NHS Shetland is delighted to announce that Dr Kirsty Brown, Clinical Development Fellow, has been awarded the prestigious William Cullen Prize by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) in recognition of her outstanding contribution to medical education and service innovation in rural healthcare.
The Cullen prize was formally awarded during the Board meeting earlier today, Tuesday 10 February. The presentation took place in the Ronas Ward, Gilbert Bain Hospital, where Dr Brown’s colleagues joined in person to celebrate the achievement. Family members also joined remotely via Microsoft Teams, along with Professor Andy Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
The William Cullen Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Service Innovation recognises clinicians or clinical teams who have made a significant contribution to local teaching or healthcare innovation. Dr Brown’s award reflects her exceptional commitment to multidisciplinary education, simulation-based learning, and the development of rural medical training.
Dr Brown has been instrumental in supporting NHS Shetland’s highly commended medical student teaching programme and is a key driver of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) In Situ Simulation programme at the Gilbert Bain Hospital. This initiative has played a vital role in strengthening team-based learning, improving emergency preparedness, and enhancing interprofessional collaboration across the hospital.
Dr Brown said she was both surprised and delighted to receive the award: “I never imagined that I would be nominated for the Cullen prize, let alone be awarded it. It was quite a surprise when Dr Wilson told me. I’m very much looking forward to the presentation, and I hope my family will be able to join via video call from the mainland.
Reflecting on her time in Shetland, Dr Brown added: “I love being in Shetland. I don’t feel that this award reflects my work alone but rather the collective efforts of so many people who have contributed to medical education in NHS Shetland over the years. It has been a real privilege to be part of the team for the past 18 months, and I’ve benefited enormously from the experience, support and hard work of everyone involved.”
Dr Brown also highlighted the significance of the timing of the award: “2026 marks ten years since Dr Pauline Wilson received the Cullen prize herself, and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work within her team. Her unwavering commitment to medical education and rural healthcare has been incredibly inspiring, and her support has been invaluable.”
Since graduating from the University of Dundee in 2018, Dr Brown had rotated between hospitals across the West of Scotland. As she approached the end of ACCS Internal Medicine training, she knew she wanted to gain more formal experience of delivering teaching before pursuing higher specialty training. She also hoped to work in a more rural setting — both because of the clinical experience and her love for the outdoors.
Dr Brown explained: “By chance, I came across an advert for a post in Shetland; the opportunity was exciting both due to the job offered and its rurality. I’d never actually been to Shetland, and most of what I knew came from my grandparents, loyal Island Medics fans who always spoke fondly of the series.
“I initially had some doubts about moving 300 miles from home; however, the consistently positive experiences shared by current and former staff of the Gilbert Bain Hospital quickly alleviated these concerns. They were right: I planned to come for a year, and 18 months on, I’m still here enjoying every opportunity that I’m given and still captivated by everything that Shetland has to offer.
“There is a unique sense of community within NHS Shetland, from undergraduate level to consultant and across the Multidisciplinary Team. This allows teaching to be tailored to the team’s needs, and it’s a privilege to be part of a service that values training and staff development.”
Dr Pauline Wilson, Director of Medical Education, expressed her thanks and pride in Dr Brown’s achievement, said said: “We are immensely proud of Kirsty and thrilled to see her work recognised by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. She has been instrumental in strengthening multidisciplinary teamwork within our rural general hospital and has transformed how we approach learning through in situ simulation. Her leadership, compassion and dedication to medical student and trainee wellbeing exemplify excellence in rural medicine, and this award is richly deserved.”
Dr Brown also acknowledged the wider team involved in delivering the simulation programme, she said: “This work would not be possible without a committed and collaborative faculty. I have particularly enjoyed working alongside Dr Dean O’Dwyer, Jane Astles (Advanced Nurse Practitioner), Daniel Mainland (SAS Doctor), and the A&E Consultant/ Senior Team, all of whom have been integral to establishing and sustaining in situ simulation at the Gilbert Bain Hospital.”
NHS Shetland looks forward to celebrating Dr Brown’s achievement with colleagues, friends and family and to continuing to build on the innovative educational work that has earned national recognition.