Carolyn Wilson from Bournemouth University has been awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for her service in the Royal Navy in the Kings Birthday Honours.
Carolyn recently joined BU’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences after a twenty-seven-year career as a Medical Technician, where she specialised in operating department practice within the NHS and onboard maritime ships overseas and at home. During her years of service, she was deployed to provide medical care to personnel around the world, including UK armed forces and civilians caught up in disaster zones.
She has served in several conflict zones, such as Iraq and Afghanistan and has also helped communities during medical crises, such as the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, and provided humanitarian support to citizens in areas struck by natural disasters.
The news of her service award came in early June in a phone call from her previous Commanding Officer.
Carolyn said, “I have had the privilege of working with and learning from many outstanding individuals in the Armed Forces. Their humility often means they don’t receive the recognition they truly deserve. I was raised to work hard and care for others, so joining the Royal Navy Medical Services felt like a natural path for me. I never expected to receive such recognition myself. I’m incredibly grateful to the Navy for providing me with an excellent education and exceptional leadership skills, which I now carry with me into civilian life.”
Carolyn joined BU in February this year and has brought her extensive understanding of operating practice in her role as Healthcare Skills and Technology Team Leader. This involves making sure that the training simulation facilities used by students on healthcare courses, including Nursing and Paramedic Sciences, are all set up and working correctly for their practical exercises and assessments.
She will be presented with her Meritorious Service Award at a formal ceremony later this year.
