Professor Clare Fowler
Clare was awarded a CBE for services to uro-neurology, after developing a new subspecialty within neurology over the past 25 years. Even now, the very specialist unit she established in 1987 for patients with urological problems and sexual dysfunction as a consequence of neurological disease, remains unique in the UK and has few peers worldwide.
Clare has worked tirelessly to develop her unit. Patients are referred from all over the UK and are seen by a multidisciplinary team of nurses and doctors. In 1985 she described a syndrome which provided an explanation for urinary retention in young women (other than hysteria) which has since become known as “Fowler’s Syndrome”. Patients suspected of having this disorder have been referred in ever increasing numbers for the past 25 years.
While maintaining a busy consultant-led practice, she also developed a formidable research programme, publishing over 200 peer-reviewed articles, 80 book chapters and three authoritative books. She has served on many international research committees and advisory boards for research and clinical practice, and delivered numerous prestigious lectures worldwide. In 2010 she was awarded the St Peter’s Medal from the British Association of Urological Surgeons.
In addition to her clinical and research work, Clare also made an enormous contribution to clinical management within the Trust. She served as one of two deputy medical directors (1997-2000), a period of major transition within the Trust. With the medical director and other deputy medical director, she managed to bring about a unity of purpose from the consultant body which enabled the Trust to drive forward the plans for the building of the new University College Hospital which opened in 2005.
Clare said: “I will be accepting the award on behalf of all the nurses and doctors who have helped me care for patients and build up the department of uro-neurology. What is more, I know that the development of this new neurological speciality would not have been possible at any other hospital and I am grateful for the vision of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the years of support from UCLH.”
Sir Robert Naylor, UCLH chief executive, said: “I am delighted that Clare's fantastic contribution to the Trust has been recognised. Not only has she been the leading light in uro-neurology at the NHNN but for ten years she was the Caldicott Guardian, an essential role to maintain patient confidentiality of medical records. I am sure that everyone in the Trust will join me in congratulating Clare.”
Gill Gaskin, UCLH medical director said: “Over the course of a very distinguished career Clare has established Uro-Neurology as an internationally-recognised specialty and has been a major contributor to the success of the NHNN and UCLH. But most of all she has made a huge difference to patients with sexual and urological complications of neurological disease. This award is truly well-deserved.”