Congratulations to our 2015 Foundation Award winners (from left) Katy Sutcliffe, Joshua Lawson, Chris Murphy, Stephanie Curbishley and Shahab Razavi. Unfortunately, Fraser Cameron was unable to attend the ceremony.
Every summer the hospital welcomes a group of newly qualified foundation doctors to the organisation, congratulates those who are moving from their first to their second year of foundation training and says a fond farewell to those who are moving on to a more senior stage in their medical careers.
These newly qualified doctors spend two years with the Trust, as they get to grips with working in the NHS and understanding which area they will further train or specialise in for the future.
With up to 24 new faces in each year, these doctors are known as Foundation Year 1 (F1s) and Foundation Year 2 (F2s) and play a key role as part of the Countess team.
This last week (Thursday) saw our departing F2s being given a farewell celebratory send off by their peers and the team in medical education who have supported their training and clinical development over the last two years at the Trust. The current F1s also celebrated moving into their second year of foundation training (F2). The event included a prize giving ceremony for the following awards and individuals:
Foundation Year 1 Doctor of the year (as voted by peers, consultants, speciality and associate specialist grades and colleagues in medical education)
• Winner – Josh Lawson for being: “Polite, friendly, professional, positive, dedicated, outstanding, sociable, hard-working and approachable.”
• Runner up – Katy Sutcliffe described by nominees as: “An inspiration to doctors everywhere, caring, compassionate, supportive and a pleasure to work with.”
Foundation Year 2 Doctor of the year (as voted by peers, consultants, SAS grades and colleagues in medical education)
• Winner – Shahab Razavi for being: “A true gentleman, happy to help, always cheerful, a model foundation doctor, polite, enthusiastic.”
• Runner up – Chris Murphy referred to by peers as: “A good representative at meetings, keen to teach, well-liked, engaged with his development, a professional and caring doctor.”
• Runner up - Stephanie Curbishley described as: “An excellent doctor, always polite and willing to help, caring and compassionate.”
The Players’ Player Doctor of the year (as voted overall by their peers)
• Winner – Katy Sutcliffe described by peers as: “An inspiration to doctors everywhere, caring, compassionate, supportive and a pleasure to work with.”
• Runner up – Fraser Cameron for being: “Hard-working, competent, helpful, dedicated, calm, level headed and keen.”
• Runner Up – Josh Lawson: “Polite, friendly, professional, positive, dedicated, outstanding, sociable, hard-working, approachable.”
The iTeach Award (as voted by F1s and F2s in recognition of the Countess doctor that has most supported them in their training, supervision and education)
• Winner – Miss Nicola Eardley (general surgeon) who junior doctors described as: “Very helpful, inspiration, fab, fantastic, approachable, supportive, excellent supervisor.”
• Runner up – Dr Roger Trent (cardiology) referred to by nominees as: “Always keen, great teacher, engages in supervision, able to praise and note positives.”
• Runner up – Dr John Gibbs (paediatrics) for being: “Inspirational, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dedicated.”
Speaking after the event, Medical Director at The Countess of Chester Hospital, Ian Harvey said: “Our junior doctors are an important part of the team in both our Chester and Ellesmere Port Hospitals and we play a key role in supporting their development and education by helping them to settle into their newly qualified positions.
“The professionalism and enthusiasm these doctors demonstrate is a credit to them and their training. We have a responsibility to harness this energy and nurture their talents – they are the future of our NHS.”
He added: “For those new to The Countess this month, we wish a warm welcome. To those progressing from F1 to F2, we wish you continued success. To those leaving the Trust, it has been a pleasure working with you and we wish you all the best in your future careers.”