NHS Shetland's Consultant Physician and Associate Medical Director (Acute), Professor Pauline Wilson, has been awarded the role of Honorary Professor in the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen.
Prof Wilson hopes the appointment, which was announced on 1 August, will allow her to continue to support the strategic development of medical services in Shetland and to contribute more broadly to remote and rural healthcare. She said: "I am truly delighted to have been appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Aberdeen. I am especially pleased that this recognition reflects the value and importance of remote and rural medicine.
"As a Shetlander who was born, raised and educated in Shetland, I am incredibly proud of my roots. After leaving the islands to study medicine at the University of Aberdeen, I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to return home to live and work, building my career while serving the community that shaped me.
"I hope this honour demonstrates that careers in rural medicine are both rewarding and impactful. It is also a testament to the opportunities that can arise from being brought up and educated in Shetland, and to the strong educational foundations that enabled me to progress from local schools to medical training at Aberdeen and a career in rural healthcare.
"Throughout my career, I have been passionate about ensuring that remote and rural medicine, and the expertise required to practise as a generalist, are fully understood and valued by academic and training partners. By helping to shape both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, I hope I have played a small part in making it easier for future generations to see a fulfilling career in places like Shetland. Ultimately, I am proud that this recognition helps raise the profile of rural healthcare and the communities it serves.”
Appointed as a Consultant Physician in NHS Shetland in 2005, Dr Wilson has developed extensive experience as a senior generalist clinician working within a rural general hospital setting. Her clinical practice encompasses acute medicine, unscheduled care and paediatric presentations, supported by a strong emphasis on governance, patient safety and service improvement.
Through close partnership with the University of Aberdeen, Dr Wilson has supported the development of immersive remote and rural placements that prioritise continuity of supervision, authentic clinical responsibility and early professional identity formation. Her work has contributed to broadening students’ understanding of career possibilities, challenging misconceptions about rural practice, and positioning remote and rural healthcare as a progressive, academically credible and professionally rewarding pathway. This sustained collaboration reflects her commitment to service–academic partnership and to ensuring that undergraduate medical education is aligned with future workforce needs.
Dr Wilson was also recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours list when she was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contributions to medicine. This recognition highlighted 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.
Professor David Blackbourn, Head of the School of Medical Sciences and Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Pauline Wilson OBE as an Honorary Professor at University Aberdeen.
“Dr Wilson is a highly respected leader whose contribution to healthcare, public service and professional education has had a significant impact across the sector and of course, a graduate of the University too. Her wealth of experience, expertise and commitment to improving outcomes for patients and communities align closely with our values and ambitions as a medical school.
“The University has a long-standing partnership with NHS Shetland, supporting medical teaching, clinical placements and research initiatives that help address the healthcare needs of remote and island communities and we look forward to working with Dr Wilson and benefiting from the insight, leadership and inspiration she will bring to our students, staff and partners.”