CLASS OF 2025: NHS Leader honoured for lifetime service to healthcare

Sally Roberts, a healthcare leader with 40 years of service in the NHS, has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Wolverhampton. A registered nurse and qualified specialist practitioner in District Nursing, Sally has held senior roles across provider, education, and commissioning organisations. She currently serves as Chief Nursing Officer and Deputy Chief Executive for the Black Country Integrated Care Board. 

Throughout her career, Sally has championed community healthcare, spending significant time as a district nurse and community practice teacher. As an executive board nurse for over a decade, she played a pivotal role in the region’s COVID-19 response, establishing testing hubs and leading the vaccination rollout across the Black Country.

A proud alumna and advocate for the University of Wolverhampton, Sally received the University’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 and continues to be a passionate supporter of the city and its people. 

Sally said, “I am deeply humbled and incredibly grateful to receive the Honorary Doctorate and would like to thank the university for this recognition. The honour is especially meaningful because 40 years ago I began my Nurse training right here in the Black Country at Sandwell School of Nursing, so this is a full circle moment for me. I accept this honour on behalf of my fellow nurse colleagues, who continue to lift, teach and remind me every day why my work matters.  

Honorary awards are presented by the University of Wolverhampton to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise. 

To find out more about graduate success, check out the Every Story Has a Start web page which showcases our exceptional alumni across the globe doing incredible things. High achievers from the worlds of literature, business, sport, film and the arts feature, sharing how their lives and careers have developed since their days studying with us.   

After graduation, graduates become members of the Alumni Association and are encouraged to keep in touch, to take advantage of a wide range of benefits and support on offer, including a discount for postgraduate study.