Our Psychiatrist of the Year 2023 speaks of ‘truly wonderful’ experience at RCPsych Awards
Do you know an individual or team who have gone above and beyond in the last year? We’re inviting nominations for RCPsych Awards. Read what receiving an award meant to Dr Fabida Aria.
“It was like getting an Oscar for psychiatrists, it was weird – surreal – but truly wonderful.”
Dr Fabida Aria, recipient of last year’s Psychiatrist of the Year award at the prestigious Royal College of Psychiatrists ceremony, has revealed just what it has meant.
“Doing the job we love is a privilege; no matter what the challenges are, we know we will make a difference,” the consultant psychiatrist and medical director at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said. “Receiving the award was one of the ways to reinforce the differences we make every day.
“It’s been inspiring and motivating for not only me but, I’ve been told, people who look like me as well – people who don’t think an award like this is for them. It helps to encourage women of colour to take on leadership roles and these small incremental changes are what we need to change for the better.”
The chair of the Transcultural Psychiatry Special Interest Group and specialist advisor for the medical trainee initiative scheme at the College has said she is quietly helping to boost nomination numbers for this year’s awards.
She is encouraging individuals and teams across the country to nominate and share the excellent work that they do. She has been contacted by several people for advice and support as well.
The 2024 Awards – to be presented at a special ceremony in November 2024 – have 18 categories, including individual awards for psychiatrists of all grades as well as for foundation doctors and trainees. There are also team awards to recognise the work being done by teams in mental health care, including an award for PsychSocs and a brand-new category for Digital Mental Health.
Winners will not find out until the night, although a shortlist will be announced in the summer.
Dr Aria added:
“I would encourage everyone to take the time to consider and nominate someone. It’s changed a lot for me to share my experience widely, to mentor others and it’s been so rewarding. I would say my name is more well-known in the specialty, it’s lovely when you get recognised by colleagues.
“It’s been a really special time in my career, and anyone who takes the time to nominate someone is doing something really worthwhile for mental health as a whole. So please act and fill in a form.”
Dr Aria added that she also nominated a colleague last year, and was every bit as delighted to see them shortlisted for the award.
For the full list of categories, criteria, entry forms and rules for entry see our RCPsych Awards 2024 page.
The closing date for entries is 5pm on 31 May 2024.