The International Association for Quality Assurance in Pre-Tertiary & Higher Education (QAHE), in partnership with the American University of Business and Social Sciences (AUBSS), has awarded the degree of Doctor of Health Sciences (Honoris Causa) in Clinical Education and Practice to Wesley James Sterling.
Wesley James Sterling is a highly respected healthcare practitioner and educator whose career spans more than four decades in clinical practice and health professions education. With extensive experience in acute and critical care, major trauma, and specialist nursing, he played a vital role in the delivery of emergency healthcare at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast during a particularly challenging period in Northern Ireland. His deep clinical expertise, combined with a strong commitment to education, has enabled him to make a lasting impact on the training and development of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists across the United Kingdom.
Throughout his career, Wesley Sterling has held several key academic positions at Queen’s University Belfast, including Lecturer and Course Director in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. He has been instrumental in developing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with particular expertise in clinical examination skills, acute and critical care, and inter-professional education. He continues to serve as a Teaching Associate in the School of Medicine, where he teaches clinical skills to medical students across all years of the programme. His contributions extend beyond the university setting, having also supported national initiatives in medicines management and specialist clinical training.
In recognition of his exceptional and sustained contributions to clinical education, professional practice, and the advancement of healthcare training, QAHE and AUBSS have jointly conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Health Sciences. This award acknowledges not only his extensive clinical experience but also his dedication to teaching excellence, curriculum development, and the mentorship of future healthcare professionals.
QAHE is proud to honour individuals like Wesley James Sterling, whose lifelong commitment to improving healthcare education and practice reflects the values of quality, integrity, and service that the association seeks to promote. His achievements serve as an inspiration to educators and practitioners across the health professions.
