Professor Neal Cook, Head of the School of Nursing and Paramedic Science, has been nominated to receive a Fellowship Ad Eundem from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), one of the profession's highest honours.
The news of Professor Cook’s award nomination comes as Dr Sian-Lee Ewan, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine, was announced as a prestigious National Teaching Fellow (NTF) by Advance HE earlier this month.
Both awards reflect the impact of Ulster University's health education programmes, which are helping to develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and healthcare leaders for Northern Ireland and beyond.
RCSI Fellowship Ad Eundem for Professor Neal Cook
Professor Cook’s nomination acknowledges his internationally recognised leadership in nursing education, person-centred practice and neuroscience nursing. His research, educational leadership and work supporting internationally educated nurses and midwives have influenced practice and professional standards globally.
Serving as President of the European Association of Neuroscience Nurses since 2015, Professor Cook also led the development of the first international standard for the Glasgow Coma Scale in 2025, and supported the assessment and professional development of more than 42,000 internationally educated nurses and midwives through his work at Ulster University.
Professor Cook is also an elected member of Ulster University Senate. His Fellowship will be conferred in Dublin in December 2026.
Commenting on the recognition, Professor Neal Cook said:
"I am deeply honoured to have been nominated for this Fellowship Ad Eundem. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of colleagues, students and healthcare professionals committed to advancing nursing education and improving the care of people."
Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship for Dr Sian-Lee Ewan
Dr Ewan’s National Teaching Fellowship recognises her transformational contribution to medical education and her role in establishing Ulster University’s Graduate Entry Medical School at the Derry~Londonderry campus. Through innovative clinical placements and community-focused learning, she has helped shape a new model of medical education that develops compassionate and socially accountable doctors.
Dr Sian-Lee Ewan said:
"I am deeply honoured to receive a National Teaching Fellowship. This recognition reflects the collective commitment of colleagues, clinical educators, students and healthcare partners who share a vision for medical education that is socially accountable and centred on people and communities."
‘Excellence in both medicine and nursing’
Professor Odette Hutchinson, Pro Vice Chancellor, Academic Quality and Student Experience, said:
"We are absolutely delighted to see excellence in both medicine and nursing recognised through these prestigious national awards. These achievements reflect the outstanding contribution and leadership of two colleagues at Ulster University and our collective ambition to developing graduates who will make a positive difference to society. Ulster University is defined by the quality of its educational provision, ambition and leadership and it is wonderful to see national recognition of this”.
Professor Victor Gault, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, added:
"The recognition of both Professor Cook and Dr Ewan is a powerful endorsement of the quality and impact of healthcare education at Ulster University. Their achievements showcase the expertise and innovation of our community and the vital contribution our Derry~Londonderry campus is making to the future health workforce."
Together, the awards reinforce Ulster University’s position as a leader in healthcare education, research and professional development, with its Derry~Londonderry campus playing a central role in training highly skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals to serve communities locally and globally.
