A Therapeutic Radiographer from University College Hospital in London won the prestigious Whatever It Takes – Clinical Expertise award at the Macmillan Professional Excellence Awards in April.
Sabina Khan, a Macmillan consultant head and neck Therapeutic Radiographer in late effects, received the accolade on 23 April at the Macmillan Professionals Conference in Birmingham.
The Whatever It Takes – Clinical Expertise category recognises those in registered or specialist clinical roles who go above and beyond to impact the lives of people affected by cancer.
"Winning this award offers a valuable opportunity to showcase how instrumental the role of the Therapeutic Radiographer is throughout the whole cancer pathway, particularly within survivorship,” said Sabina.
“Building on a legacy of Therapeutic Radiographer winners, it has helped bring head and neck late effects to the forefront. It also recognises that, as a team, we are listening to our patients and working collaboratively to identify and address their unmet needs."
‘An amazing achievement’
Sabina received the award thanks to her pioneering work in establishing a solely head and neck late effects clinic at University College Hospital for those experiencing ongoing effects from radiotherapy treatment. She was inspired to set up the clinic after meeting a former patient who shared that they felt worse a year after receiving radiotherapy treatment compared to during treatment.
Together with the multidisciplinary team in her department, she built a service that addresses the reality of late effects symptoms. Her role includes delivering treatment to former cancer patients as well as providing emotional support through the popular late effects support group.
Katie Thompson, president of the Society of Radiographers, said Sabina was very deserving of the award and praised the pioneering work happening in late effects.
“Sabina has shown how having an idea based on a patient's lived experience can transform both a service and the life of that patient,” she said. “Sabina thoroughly deserves this award, and the work that she does, and other professionals in the late effects sphere do, is helping people to live well – and that is an amazing achievement indeed.”
The Macmillan Professionals Excellence Awards has five categories: Community Impact, Equity Champion, Rising Star, Service Innovator and Whatever It Takes. Whatever It Takes is split into two subcategories – Clinical Expertise, which Sabina won, and Vital Support.
Find out more about the awards here.
(Image credit: Macmillan)