Professor Chris Whitty has been invited to Northumbria University next year to receive an honorary degree.
The university, which has resumed holding in-person graduation ceremonies, is to award Prof Whitty with an honorary Doctorate of Science degree.
Over ten days in September Northumbria University held 28 graduation events to celebrate the achievements of more than 6,000 students who had been forced to keep the champagne on ice during the pandemic.
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Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the uni's Chancellor, said: "Celebrating the success of all our graduates in such an extraordinary venue was especially rewarding given the challenges we have all faced since March 2020.
"It was a privilege and pleasure to share this special occasion with our graduates and congratulate them on their extraordinary achievement."
Vice-Chancellor and chief exec Prof Andrew Wathey CBE added: "Graduation marks an important milestone in our students’ lives.
"Having welcomed our graduates to Newcastle Cathedral at our most recent ceremonies, it is clear to see how important it is that we are once again able to formally recognise their hard work and academic achievement.
"We are delighted to invite Professor Whitty, one of Northumbria’s most distinguished alumni, to our summer congregations, to accept the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in recognition of his outstanding contribution to healthcare, science and society."
It has been announced Prof Whitty will "provide leadership" to a new Government organisation tasked with tackling health inequality.
Prof Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, is also a practicing consultant and has worked as a researcher in public health across the UK and in Asia and Africa.
He has been invited to a graduation ceremony which will take place next July.
Prof Whitty studied a medical law masters degree at Northumbria.
