During her time as consultant physician Rowan Hillson developed the Diabetes and Endocrine Unit at Hillingdon Hospital. Hillson and her diabetes team won the Hospital Doctor of the Year Diabetes Award in 1997. Hillson was Consultant Physician, Diabetes and Endocrinology, at Hillingdon Hospital from 1989 to 2012, and honorary Consultant Physician from 2012 to 2013.