A Keele University Professor has received an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for her dedication to patients and her extensive healthcare research. 

Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham, Professor of General Practice Research in the School of Medicine, has been made an OBE in this year’s list for services to General Practice and Patient Care, and to Primary Care Research, particularly into Long Covid. 

Professor Chew-Graham began researching the phenomenon of “Long Covid” in 2020 after becoming aware of patients presenting with symptoms early in the pandemic, in her work as a practising GP. She has also co-designed a training module for other GPs on helping patients with Long Covid. 

Her research also focuses on the primary care management of people with anxiety and depression, multiple health conditions, and unexplained symptoms. 

She is also Chair of the Society Academic Primary Care (SAPC), Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Scientific Foundation Board, and RCGP ‘Curriculum Advisor, Mental Health’.

Professor Chew-Graham said: "I am honoured and humbled in equal measure to receive this OBE, and hope this emphasises the importance of research into Long Covid, as well as mental health and wellbeing. My sincere thanks to all of my colleagues at Keele and in the NHS, without whom this wouldn’t have been possible.”

Professor Mark Ormerod, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, at Keele University said: “I am delighted that Carolyn has been honoured with an OBE for her outstanding services and commitment over many years to general practice and patient care, particularly to improving care for people with mental health problems, and to primary care research.

"Carolyn is an outstanding clinical academic whose research has had a major impact on improving care for people. Her recent work on Long Covid has been particularly significant and important in helping understand its impact on patients and helping to support them and their families."