Charity co-founder steps down from MD role
Professor James N’Dow OBE DL, who almost two decades ago, founded UCAN along with Sam McClinton, is stepping down as managing director of the urological cancer charity with immediate effect.
Outlining the rationale behind the decision which he did not take lightly, James explains. “Following four successful fundraising campaigns and impactful patient centred service developments, the time has come for me to step down.
“UCAN is in very good hands with a strong multidisciplinary board of successful businesspeople, clinicians and patients in leadership positions on the UCAN Board. It is the right time for the younger generation of outstanding urological surgeons to take UCAN and the urology services to new heights.
“This current campaign, in partnership with Friends of Anchor, to secure the establishment of a world beating SURE Unit, a rapid one stop urological cancer diagnostic centre, co-located with the current urological services, will ensure that cancer patients and their families in North of Scotland are seen very quickly and on the same day of their appointment get a diagnosis or the all clear and that, as far as I am concerned, is the perfect legacy for my own involvement.
“NHS Grampian executive leadership and the NHSG Board have been hugely supportive of this long overdue initiative. Significant investment and work have gone into ensuring the preferred site is appropriate and ready for implementation and we sincerely thank our donors for their invaluable support and trust.
“Catalysing such complementary innovations and investments alongside what the NHS is able to afford results in significant benefits to our patients, their families and all citizens of the North of Scotland and, as the co-founder of UCAN and MD for almost twenty years, I have been honoured to have been a part of this journey. The road has not always been easy as there are always tensions between competing needs of services across NHS Grampian.
“UCAN and especially the Urology services have always counted on the leadership of the executive and of the NHSG Board over the years when tough decisions have needed to be made. I have no doubt there are still twists and turns ahead from now to full implementation and the doors being open by this summer.
“I will of course continue to support UCAN for as long as I can. My leaving wish is that implementation commences now since for every day that we delay starting, more cancer patients and their families have to go through the most dreadful wait for a diagnosis or an all clear.”
In a joint statement UCAN Chair Justine Royle and Chief Executive Kenny Anderson said, “Prof N’Dow’s contribution to the massive improvements in Urology service delivery in the North of Scotland is immeasurable. His ability to attract funders through his vision and energy brought robotic surgery to Aberdeen transforming lives and medical outcomes. He has again brought that same energy to forge links with Friends of Anchor and others to allow us to be on the cusp of delivering the new SURE Unit at ARI after many months of careful preparation, planning and fundraising. The new unit within the existing building will be as transformational as robotic surgery has been in reducing anxiety in patients, improving medical outcomes and saving lives.”
In September 2022, James was appointed to the position of Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire and in the following year’s New Years Honours list, was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to advancement of the profession of urology, his related cancer research and for his voluntary clinical and academic work.
