Dr Salah El-Sharkawi was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1979 and has been Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Singleton Hospital since 1980.

As a manager and director of cancer services in South West Wales, he led the foundation of the South West Wales Cancer Centre, Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Unit, Chemotherapy/Day Unit, Cancer IT Unit, and a hostel for accommodating cancer patients from West Wales during their treatment. He was also closely involved in the setting up of North Wales Cancer Centre and The Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in Cardiff.

Dr El-Sharkawi said: “I am greatly honoured and privileged to receive an honorary fellowship from Swansea University, an excellent institution with which I have had a long-standing collaboration.

“Furthermore, if it is also a recognition of one's efforts to establish a Cancer Centre in South Wales with all its subunits, then it is a recognition of the relentless efforts of the whole community in supporting this project. I hope that the link between the various scientific disciplines of Swansea University and the medical profession continues to be strengthened to serve patients in Wales.”

Swansea University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B Davies, said: “Dr Salah El-Sarkawi has played a pivotal role in the development of frontline cancer treatments, particularly radiotherapy and chemotherapy services for patients from Swansea and South West Wales. His tireless work over many years has enabled the development of the South West Wales Cancer Centre into a modern cutting edge department, whilst his charitable work for the Cancer Centre has raised millions of pounds.

“Dr El-Sarkawi was also one of the first clinicians to forge a link between Swansea University and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, a relationship that has resulted in many collaborative research projects. He has jointly supervised fifteen MSc and PhD students at Swansea, and has been involved in training undergraduate and postgraduate medical, nursing, and radiography students, as well as junior doctors and general practitioners.

“It gives us great pleasure to be able to honour Dr El-Sarkawi’s work with this prestigious award.”

Dr El-Sarkawi was awarded an MBE for services to medicine in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He is a Royal College Representative, a Royal College Assessor for the appointment of consultants, and has spent three years on the Royal College’s Audit Committee.

Swansea University’s Summer Degree and Award Congregations take place from Monday, July 18 – Friday, July 22. The Congregations are held in the City and County of Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall (part of the Guildhall). For more information about Swansea University Graduation Week, visit: www.swansea.ac.uk/graduation/.

This news item has been published by Beth Lauder, Swansea University Public Relations Office. Telephone: 01792 51 3245 Email b.lauder@swansea.ac.uk