South Eastern Division Regional Trainee and Trainer Awards

Welcome to the South Eastern Regional Awards Page. These awards have been organised to celebrate excellence in trainees and trainers in the South East region. We provide a ceremony to engage and enthuse local trainees and remind trainees of the function of the SED and how it might support them.

For more information on the prizes/awards offered by the Division, please contact the manager Karen Morgan.

South Eastern Division Trainee and Trainer Awards 2024

The South Eastern Division are happy to announce nominations and registrations are now open for our 2024 Trainee and Trainer Awards. The awards ceremony will be held on the evening of Tuesday 19 March 2024 from 6.30pm - 8.00pm.

Before nominating, please see our Rules for Entry. If you would like to nominate a trainee or trainer, please see our nomination forms below for each category:

The awards ceremony is open for anyone to attend, including family, friends and colleagues, and it is free. The ceremony will be on 19 March 2024 at 6.30pm and all nominees will be requested to attend. Please register in advance to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the ceremony.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 16 February 2024.

South Eastern Division Trainee and Trainer Awards 2023

The South Eastern Division were excited to have held our SECOND Regional Trainee and Trainer Awards.

This was a free virtual event, held on 6 June 2023 and our keynote speaker who opened the ceremony was Professor Julie Anderson who spoke about the history of Mental Health - From Melancholia to Moral Injury

Please see below to find out details of the award winners and a video of the ceremony.

Award Winners

Core Trainee of the Year 2023

Shortlisted

Dr James Anslow
Dr Apphia Bunting
Dr Heidi Cooper

Winner

Dr Apphia Bunting

Dr Apphia Bunting is a Core Trainee Doctor working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and was nominated by Dr Sophie Behrman.

Dr Bunting has been recognised for her exceptional professionalism and compassion. Dr Behrman highlights Dr Bunting’s ability to balance training, childcare, and outside activities while maintaining professional integrity. Her dedication is further evident through her approachability, compassion, and willingness to help others. She is highly respected by both colleagues and patients.

Dr Bunting adapts quickly to new teams and systems and demonstrates reliability and flexibility in meeting the needs of her team and patients while pursuing her own learning needs. She actively introduces innovation and seeks out further training when necessary.

Dr Bunting's proactive nature ensures she maximises important training opportunities, such as finding a place in a Balint group in a neighbouring trust. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in various projects, including reviewing medication in the LD team and producing induction templates.

Despite her busy schedule, Dr Bunting remains committed to educating others, including medical students, and engages in research activities. Her commitment to excellence and continuous improvement makes her an outstanding nominee for this award.

Higher Trainee of the Year 2023

Shortlisted

Dr Hussien Elkholy
Dr Katherine Reid
Dr Verity Williams

Winner

Dr Katherine Reid

Dr Katherine Reid is a ST6 in General Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. She was actually nominated twice, jointly by Dr Olga-Maria Tsatalou and Dr Alvaro Barrera, and also by Dr Shah Tarfarosh.

Dr Reid has been known by her nominators since she started her core Training in Psychiatry and they have worked very closely with her throughout last year.

She is an inspirational colleague and fosters therapeutic relationships to promote collaborative working.

She is teaching on the Clinically Relevant Interview skills in Psychiatry – a course which has won the Dennis O’Leary Award 2023 for innovation in Medical Education.

She has facilitated annual teaching day on Psychodynamic Psychotherapy to trainee psychologists as well as facilitating Balint groups for 2nd-year medical students.

Trainee Peer of the Year 2023

Shortlisted

Dr Ahmad Kamaleldeen Abdou Mohamed
Dr Mathanki Krishnamoorthy

Winner

Dr Ahmad Kamaleldeen Abdou Mohamed

Kamaleldeen Abdou Mohamed is a CT3 at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and was nominated by Dr Shah Tarfarosh.

Dr Mohamed has been nominated for his determined dedication to creating an inclusive, empowering, and supportive environment which sets him apart as an exceptional mentor and colleague. He continually manifests his commitment to growth and excellence through every interaction, fostering an environment that encourages personal and professional development.

Kamal's ability to intuitively recognise the needs of his peers and respond empathetically to their challenges makes him a pillar of strength within the trainee community. His commitment to fostering a compassionate atmosphere has significantly uplifted the spirit of collaboration and comradery among everyone he’s worked with.

Simultaneously, Kamal has tirelessly worked towards elevating the professional landscape for trainee doctors. His efforts have manifested in his ability to identify, address, and improve areas that impact work conditions directly. His consistent actions to ensure a smooth and enriching professional journey for his colleagues have significantly enhanced the workplace.

An educator by nature, Kamal continually encourages skill improvement amongst his colleagues. Whether it’s a small learning need or a grand passion, Kamal is there, extending his knowledge, support, and enthusiasm, empowering his colleagues to pursue their curiosities and interests.

Kamal has been a great representative and a voice for trainees in the different roles he’s occupied throughout his training as well as his proactive leadership approach. His work reflects not only his personal excellence but also embodies the aspirations, efforts, and potential of trainees in the region. By nominating Kamal it is recognising his tremendous dedication, his genuine interest in listening and supporting others and is also a celebration of the ethos of empathetic leadership that he so inspiringly represents.

Trainee Innovator of the Year 2023

Shortlisted

Dr Elizabeth Junaid
Dr Isabel Leach

Winner

Dr Isabel Leach

Dr Leach is a CT2 at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and was nominated by Dr Shah Tarfarosh.

Dr Leach has demonstrated extraordinary contributions as a Trainee QI lead in Milton Keynes. She pioneered this new role, focusing on quality improvement (QI), and successfully enhanced patient safety through a project improving the handover system for on-call junior doctors.

Dr Leach's meticulous approach, gathering criteria through focus groups and conducting a comparative analysis using two independent investigators, and the positive outcomes showcased the efficacy of her innovation. She also displayed exemplary leadership, efficiently managing, and mentoring fellow trainees and collaborating with senior management.

Dr Leach's dedication to teaching was evident through her involvement in trainer's day events and panel discussions. Her commitment to innovation and excellence exemplifies her qualifications for this award.

Psychiatric Educator of the Year 2023

Shortlisted:-

Dr Athif Zahid Ilyas
Dr Shah Tarfarosh

Winner:-

Dr Shah Tarfarosh

Dr Shah Tarfarosh is a ST5 in General Adult Psychiatry at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and was nominated by Dr Katherine Read.

Dr Shah Tarfarosh has shown unwavering commitment and innovation as a psychiatric educator in the year 2022.

His educational leadership on projects like CRISP (Clinically Relevant Interview Skills in Psychiatry) training, the OPPC (Oxford Postgraduate Psychiatry Course) MRCPsych course small-group sessions, 2 Mindful Minutes Project, Productive-Mind Training, and the RCPsych TRON module, all illustrate his dedication towards enhancing psychiatric education and his commitment to fostering a supportive and conducive learning environment.

Shah is one of the most hard-working, dynamic, and proactive colleagues and his comprehensive and innovative approach to diverse areas of psychiatric education, coupled with his dedication to trainee well-being, makes him an exceptional candidate for this award.

Psychiatric Trainer of the Year 2023

Shortlisted:-

Dr Clare Bridger
Dr Richard Brown
Dr Gerti Stegen

Winner:-

Dr Gerti Stegen

Dr Gerti Stegen, is the former Director of Medical Education at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and was jointly nominated by Dr Katherine Reid and Dr Shah Tarfarosh. Dr Stegen has made significant contributions to medical education since 2010. She prioritised trainee and patient welfare, empowering trainees to discover their strengths, use their voices assertively, value their perspectives, and catalyse system transformations.

Her innovative training initiatives, mentorship, and commitment to holistic trainee development have revolutionised medical education in Oxford. She has played a crucial role in supporting individual trainees, creating peer support groups, facilitating psychotherapy experiences, and implementing various successful and award winning training schemes. Dr Stegen pioneered diverse programs like a simulated coroner's court, peer support groups, and over 100 psychiatry work experience placements for students applying to medical school.

A dedicated mentor, her approachability and advice led to creations like the CESR training scheme, recognition systems, academic trainee links, taster weeks, and a buddy system for newcomers.

Dr Stegen's adaptability during and beyond the pandemic, transitioning training sessions seamlessly to online formats, ensures uninterrupted training. Her work extends beyond the Trust, including global influences through training projects in Hong Kong. Dr Stegen's mentorship, understanding of trainees as individuals, and dedication to their potential make her an invaluable supporter of trainee success.

South Eastern Division Regional Trainee Awards 2022

The South Eastern Division were excited to have held our first Regional Trainee and Trainer Awards.

This was a free virtual event, held on 9 March 2022 - 7.30pm to 9.00pm. We were also pleased to announce that the meeting was opened by the RCPsych Dean - Professor Subodh Dave.

Please see below to watch the video of the ceremony and to see the award winners.