Trainee Doctors And Dentists Have Been Honoured

Welsh trainee doctors and dentists have been honoured by the Wales Deanery at an event in Cardiff University’s Aberdare Hall. The BEST Trainee Awards were an initiative developed by the Wales Deanery as an opportunity for NHS staff to say ‘thank you’ for those trainees that go the extra mile. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards support and reinforce the Wales Deanery’s strategy to recruit and retain doctors in Wales. The successful nominees were rewarded with accolades in recognition of their exceptional contribution to clinical services through original and innovative work undertaken during their training. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards ceremony commenced with an opening speech from Vaughan Gething AM, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport who was thrilled to be in attendance at the first awards of their kind in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

8 trainees were named as winners on the night, they were awarded as follows: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Outstanding Contribution to the Training Programme – Dr Rachel Lee
• Outstanding Contribution outside of the Training Programme (i.e. Charity) – Dr Kathryn Speedy
• Outstanding Contribution to Raising the Profile of their Specialty in Wales – Claire Curtin
• Outstanding Contribution to Leadership – Dr Sarah Fitch
• Research Project – Dr Mat Hoskins & Dr Rhys Clement
• Medical Education – Dr Huw Williams
• Quality Improvement Project – Dr Rachel Hayward

Passion and enthusiasm ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trainee Dentist, Claire Curtin was also presented with the BEST Trainee of 2016 Award. Claire was chosen for this award because of the passion and enthusiasm she has displayed in championing a relatively new and complex specialty, as well as the drive and commitment to her post. Claire is in the last 6 months of her training and her specialty is Special Care Dentistry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Postgraduate Dean, Professor Peter Donnelly said: “The inaugural BEST Trainee Awards for 2016 were an opportunity to celebrate the excellent contribution that medical and dental trainees make to NHS Wales and the wider community…” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Claire Curtin said:“The BEST Trainee Awards are a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the hard work, innovation and enthusiasm shown by medical and dental trainees in Wales. I am absolutely honoured and delighted to have received the awards and promote Special Care Dentistry in Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards ceremony was a perfect opportunity to reward a highly talented group of doctors and dentists in training for their achievements and contributions across all specialities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​