Queens Honours list
(Clockwise) Dr Sarbjit Clare, Parbir Kaur Jagpal, Professor Dion Morton and Eluned Griffith Jones were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020.

Four members of staff at the University of Birmingham have been recognised in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Dr Sarbjit Clare is an Honorary Research Associate in the University’s Institute of Applied Health Research, and Deputy Medical director, Clinical Lead Acute Medicine, in Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust. She was honoured with an MBE for services to the NHS during Covid-19.

Dr Clare is a frontline doctor who has treated hundreds of coronavirus patients at a West Midlands NHS Trust and was responsible for setting up the acute medicine department at City Hospital, in Birmingham, where some of the sickest patients are treated.

Dr Clare said: “I am incredibly delighted and honoured to receive an MBE. It is a privilege for me to serve the local community who face huge health inequality and very humbling for my work to be recognised in this manner. It’s even more poignant in a year which has been turned upside down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Receiving this award means a lot to me as it recognises what we often do not see under the tip of the iceberg of success which is grit, energy, time, disappointment, dedication, sacrifice and much more. I applaud all my team who are critical to this success especially my amazing nursing team who are the true heroes.”

Mrs Parbir Kaur Jagpal, lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at School of Pharmacy was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to Diversity and Inclusion in Health.

Passionate about promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity, Parbir’s research focuses on the optimisation of medicines and barriers to use of medicines-related services across different communities. She has been actively involved in community health initiatives including pharmacist led projects to improve healthcare in black and minority communities and is currently working on a project focused on the healthcare needs of persons experiencing homelessness – a diverse but often ‘invisible’ group of people who have disengaged with society for a variety of reasons and circumstances.  

Parbir said: 'I am passionate about promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity across my academic, clinical and personal life.  I promote Pharmacy as a forward-thinking, patient-focussed career to potential and current students from all backgrounds, supporting them to maximise their potential. 


“In clinical practice I tailor services to meet the needs of the population and individual patients irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, personal or social characteristics.  I work on EDI issues and projects at MDS and university level to support and implement developments.  I'm honoured to receive the award and look forward to working further in this area to create more impact and visible change.”

Professor Dion Gregory Morton, Barling Professor of Surgery, University of Birmingham, was awarded an OBE for services to Innovation in the NHS.

Joint-lead of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery and Head of the Academic Department of Surgery, Professor Morton has been a driving force behind surgical innovation and collaboration on a local, regional and global level. Recognising the immense potential of surgical trainees in research, Professor Morton championed the development of the UK’s first trainee-led research network, the West Midlands Research Collaborative (WMRC) which pioneered a UK wide network of 18 collaboratives.

Professor Morton said: “Surgeons in Birmingham and the West Midlands have led a transformation in surgical research that has spread across the globe, reaching and benefitting patients across five continents. This was achieved by trainee surgeons and consultants working together to form global research networks.

“This community has delivered practice changing evidence that has been rapidly disseminated for patient benefit. I am delighted that the work of these surgeons has been recognised.”

Eluned Griffith Jones, formerly Director of Student Employability at the University, was also recognised in the 2020 list, with an MBE for services to Career Development in Higher Education. 

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