We are delighted to announce that Dr Shico Visuvanathan, consultant microbiologist and director of infection prevention and control, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.
Dr Visuvanathan has been recognised for services to microbiology, infection prevention and control, particularly during the COVID-19 response.
Dr Visuvanathan has worked at PAHT as a consultant microbiologist since 1994, and became the first director of infection prevention and control at the hospital in 2003.
Prior to her career at PAHT, she studied medicine at The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London which is now part of University College London (UCL). She won many prizes during this time, including The Charlotte Dixon Memorial Prize in Neurology, The Peter Flintan prize in Clinical Pharmacology and Anaesthetics, and the Harold Boldero Scholarship in Medicine. She graduated as the Broderip scholar and was awarded The William Henry Rean Dean’s Prize for the Most Promising Young Doctor at the medical school in 1983. Shico went on to specialise in medical microbiology at University College Hospital London, and completed her MD (Doctor of Medicine), MSc in Clinical Microbiology and FRCPath (Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists).
The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. This demonstrates the incredible efforts of hundreds of public sector and community workers throughout 2020 and beyond.
Dr Visuvanathan said: “I am humbled and very proud to be awarded an MBE.
“It is a reflection of the wonderful infection prevention and control team (IPC team) and microbiology team I work with and the hard work put in by clinical colleagues and Trust senior management alike during this pandemic.
“I would like to thank clinical and management colleagues on the PAHT infection prevention and control and clinical cells (teams) who have helped implement infection prevention and control plans, and all staff in the hospital who have worked so hard to look after our patients and each other.
“I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me in my career, both colleagues past and present, and my family.”
Lance McCarthy, chief executive, said: “It is fantastic to see Dr Visuvanathan be awarded this prestigious accolade.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the support of Shico and the infection prevention and control and microbiology teams have been outstanding.
“I am absolutely delighted for Shico and congratulations to her on this amazing achievement.”
*Please note that Dr Shico Visuvanathan’s married name is Dr Shikandhini Kanagasundrem, as shown on the New Year’s Honours list.