Appointment of Non-Executive Medical Member and Non – Executive Member to the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency

The Non-Executive appointments of Dr Janet Little as Non-Executive Medical Member and Garry McKenna as Non-Executive Member to the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) commences from 1st April 2017 for a maximum period of 4 years.

The appointments carry a time commitment of 20 days per annum and attract an annual remuneration of £2,981.

The Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency is responsible for funding, managing and supporting postgraduate medical and dental education within the Northern Ireland Deanery.  It provides a wide range of functions in the organisation, development and quality assurance of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education and in the delivery and quality assurance of Continuing Professional Development for general, medical and dental practitioners.

The appointment is made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for NI. The final decision on the extensions to the appointments rested with the Minister.

Notes to editors: 

1. The appointments were made with the approval of the Minister of Health. 
2. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. Dr Little and Mr McKenna both declared no political activity.
3. Dr Little has over 25 years' experience working as a consultant in public health and at senior management team level as Assistant Director in the Public Health Agency (PHA) for 7 years. She is a medical graduate of Queens University Belfast and completed speciality training public health, obtaining a Master's degree from Edinburgh University. She has a population perspective, experience in critical appraisal, data analysis and interpretation of information and knowledge of systems.
   She has worked in a number of service areas including the centralisation of inpatient fracture services, the roll out of regional plans for local delivery of renal dialysis, promoting organ donation and the introduction of complex specialist drug regimes.
   Dr. Little’s contribution to the health service in Northern Ireland was recognised by the awarding of the OBE in the Queen's Birthday honours in 2013. During her tenure at the PHA she was responsible for the delivery and quality assurance of screening services and the introduction of bowel cancer screening, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, additional bloodspot tests and digital mammography. She has been involved with the training of junior doctors throughout her career.
4. Mr McKenna is a career Civil Servant with almost 38 years service, primarily in the Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Regional Development and Infrastructure. At present he is the Head of Transport Legislation for the Department for Infrastructure and leads the Rail Safety Authority for Northern Ireland.  He currently serves as a Lay Magistrate, as a Lay Member of the Rates and Valuation Tribunal and was a Member of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society for NI, from 2012-2016, serving as Vice President and President for a period.
   He is also a past Chair of the Ulster College of Music, a member of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Chair of a local youth club.  
5. Media enquiries to DoH Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383 and your call will be returned. Follow us on twitter @healthdpt

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