Fauzia Khan, a multi award winning assistant psychologist at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for an award in the Asian Professionals’ National Alliance (APNA) NHS Awards.
Fauzia has been nominated for the Rising Star Award in recognition for her work in promoting psychology at a national level as well as supporting the development and wellbeing of colleagues.
APNA is a voluntary organisation made up of NHS health and social care leaders of south Asian heritage. APNA established their awards to recognise the contribution and achievements of staff working within the NHS and those who champion equality, diversity and inclusion. The category Fauzia has been shortlisted for recognises individuals who have demonstrated significant impact and influence, and demonstrates potential to be an NHS leader in the future.
Fauzia has been a real advocate for making the psychology discipline more inclusive for other aspiring psychologists from minoritised backgrounds by sharing her own experiences of being from an underrepresented background pursuing a career in psychology, through her writing endeavours, speaking at conferences, and through her ‘Fauzia Khan Interviews…’ series.
She is passionate about staff wellbeing, which resulted in her co-developing a staff wellbeing initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic. More recently, she has been involved in co-developing the ‘Unlock your Strengths Positive Psychology workshop’ initiative within the Trust’s Older Adult’s division, with Dr Kam Kahlwan (Principal Clinical Psychologist), which was warmly received by multidisciplinary staff groups.
Reacting to her nomination, Fauzia said: “I am deeply honoured to have my work recognised by APNA. It is really exciting to be shortlisted for such an important award, which promotes the importance of diversity and inclusion and champions individuals from global majority backgrounds.”
The APNA award ceremony is taking place on 13 September at Warwick University, where the winners will be announced.