RCM Honorary Fellowship Citation
Sue Macdonald
We honour Sue Macdonald for her outstanding contribution to midwifery and midwifery education throughout her career.
Sue first trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital London. Her midwifery training was originally intended as an additional qualification for her CV, but she never looked back, becoming a passionately committed midwife and dedicated champion of professional development in midwifery.
She worked in all fields of midwifery practice, including a year’s work experience in Australia, before moving into education, supporting student development at all levels. As Principal lecturer in Midwifery/Lead Midwife for Education at Middlesex University, London, she developed a range of innovative curricula from pre-registration to Master’s-level, and led midwifery research activity within the midwifery and family health academic group.
Her interests lie in the contribution and practice of midwifery academics, continuing professional education and development of midwives, reflective clinical practice, work-based learning and innovative curriculum development across midwifery.
Many RCM members will have first known Sue Macdonald’s name as the co-editor of Mayes Midwifery: A Textbook for Midwives, the definitive resource relied upon by generations of student midwives in their development. Sue has had a key role in evolving this publication since [ ].
Sue’s contribution to the RCM began in 1989 when she was first elected as a Branch chair before joining Council in 1992, where she served until becoming a member of RCM staff in 2003. She also served as a Benevolent Committee member. As Education and Research Manager for the RCM, her role covered shaping and delivering the full range of education, continuing professional development and research activities, including collaborating with other organisations nationally and internationally in developing continuing professional education for midwives.
Sue’s contribution is particularly distinguished for her endeavour to make reflective practice central, relevant and applicable for midwives. Not only did she ensure continued professional development activities were supported with resources for reflection, but this philosophy was integral to Sue’s contribution to the development of the RCM’s electronic learning platform RCM i-learn and portfolio resource, RCM i-folio. Today over 5,000 RCM members have participated in online training and development through the RCM.
Sue’s passion for midwifery education extended beyond the UK, especially in her leading role in the RCM and WHO Safe Motherhood Project Educating the Educators. This work with the Macedonian Health Department and Macedonian Association of Nurses and Midwives developed the professional role of the midwife in Macedonia through involving midwives in their own education and curriculum development.
Sue’s achievements also include her work on the RCM Examination of the Newborn learning resource project and managing research projects such as the national Perineal Assessment and Repair Longitudinal Study (PEARLS).
Believing so strongly in the importance of building the research capability and evidence-base for midwifery, Sue has now committed herself to completing her PhD thesis on care and compassion in midwifery and is working on this alongside providing consultancy work in midwifery since leaving the RCM at the end of 2012. Her love and passion for her chosen profession continues and she remains an asset to midwifery and midwifery education.