Dr John Fitzgerald, Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Audiology Services at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals (NNUH) NHS Foundation Trust has been made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours in June.
Dr FitzGerald receives the honour for his services to audiology and healthcare science in Norfolk.
He joined NNUH in 1996 and has had national roles in the British Society of Audiology, British Academy of Audiology and played an instrumental role in the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
Speaking about being made Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Dr FitzGerald said: “I received a letter in May and it was a shock and a very nice surprise. It is not something I expected and I feel very honoured.”
Dr FitzGerald specialises in balance assessment, paediatric hearing assessment and service research and development. Working alongside neonatology and pathology he introduced a test that identifies cytomegalovirus (cCMV) in newborns and helps to prevent hearing loss in babies with the virus. He introduced a peer review system for diagnostic testing of hearing in babies across the East of England.
He has been championing the role of healthcare scientists in the NHS for many years and is the lead at NNUH where we have more than 400 healthcare scientists who cover over 20 different specialisms. He has trained numerous audiologists over the years, many of which have gone on to senior roles in the NHS. He has served as chairman for the British Society of Audiology and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s NNUH Staff Awards.
