Two doctors from Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been honoured at the SAS (specialist, associate specialist, and specialty doctors) and LED (Locally Employed Doctors) East of England Recognition Awards.
Dr Rohin Vinayak won the Innovator of the Year award for his work developing the Clinical Shadowing & Integration Program (CLIP).
The program was devised and implemented as an initiative in the Bedford Hospital Medicine department to enhance the experience of newly recruited international doctors by providing them with extensive support at pre-arrival, arrival, and post-arrival stages. Since its launch in 2023, this has significantly improved access to resources and enhanced shadowing, with excellent feedback.
Dr Vinayak said: “We have been developing the program since April 2023. The initial pilot was launched in August 2023, and since then we have onboarded 25 overseas doctors and received consistent support from Medical Education and HR, who have been invaluable in helping us execute the program.
“Winning this award is a remarkable achievement for all those who have continuously worked hard to deliver CLIP to new overseas doctors.
“Special thanks to Dr Rajeev Kumar, Clinical Director, Medicine and CLIP Supervisor, and Dr M. Ullah, LED tutor, for supporting our vision to enhance the onboarding process. Also to Dr Tejal Shah’s Medical Education team and Ms Natalie Pledger’s HR team.”
Dr Shaun Trussell won the LED Trainer of the Year award.
He was nominated for being an enthusiastic, resourceful, active and dependable colleague who has played a leading role in developing and maintaining various teaching and mentoring programs for Locally Employed Doctors at Bedford Hospital.
He said: “After leaving training to stay on at Bedford as an LED, I was very passionate about offering my new colleagues the same opportunities I had as a trainee.
“To see this recognised is wonderful and I would like to thank Dr Ullah and the Education Department, particularly Perrie Usher, without whose support I would unlikely be privileged to receive this award.”
Dr Vinayak and Dr Trussell were nominated for the awards by their colleagues who believed they deserved recognition for the fantastic work they have done and continue to do.
Paul Tisi, Medical Director, said: “Congratulations to Dr Vinayak and Dr Trussell on winning these awards. It is very well deserved and a real testament to all the work that the team put into LED development and training. Their contribution is invaluable and has made a huge difference to staff across the Trust.”
