The 2017 SoR Students of the Year picked up their prizes at a ceremony which took place at the Law Society, London, this month.
The triumphant winners, which also included the Radiographer and Radiography Team of the Year, received their prizes from Suzanne Rastrick, NHS England's chief allied health professions officer and Charlie McCaffrey, chief executive of awards sponsors, Carestream.
Society president, Gareth Thomas, welcomed assembled guests, and praised the winners for their ‘dedication, enthusiasm and tenacity’.
“Today we celebrate extraordinary radiographers who lift up our spirits, strengthen our union and push us towards progress,” he said.
“I always love this event, but this is an impressive class. We’ve got innovators, dedicated public servants and change agents.
“We pay tribute to these dedicated radiographers who punch through that glass ceiling to transform daily working practices to provide the best possible care for the people we serve; our patients.”
For the first time ever the diagnostic and therapeutic students of the year were both from the same institution; the University of the West of England.
Receiving the diagnostic award was Laura Bonner, who was praised by Gareth for being an inspirational role model, overcoming dyslexia and showing remarkable determination to qualify as a radiographer.
“Laura was a highly popular student with patients, academic and clinical staff. She has a passion and gift for connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds.
“I’m sure she will be an asset to our profession.”
Laura said she was ’speechless’ when she found out she had been nominated.
“I found out on my graduation day! My tutor Janice St John Matthews and module leader came over and said we’ve got really exciting news. I was wondering what it was because I’d already graduated,” she said.
“They said they’d nominated me and I was really shocked.
“It didn’t sink in for ages, I was speechless!”
Amy Walkman made it a student double header for UWE, winning the therapeutic award.
“Amy excelled in her clinical practice, with supervisors noting her proficiency and outstanding talent,” noted Gareth.
“She couples this with her empathetic approach to patients to make a formidable combination.
“The Christie, where Amy has recently started working, have gained a great radiographer.”
“I was really shocked and didn’t expect it at all!” commented Amy.
“I’ve been at The Christie for four months, there’s been a lot of support from the team and it’s been a really great experience.”
The 2017 Radiographer of the Year and the winner of the Eastern Region award was Sam Penry from Broomfield Hospital in Essex.
Introducing Sam, Gareth cited his passion for research and the profession as the chief reasons for his success.
“But these are only part of the reason why he’s a worthy winner,” Gareth said.
“His cheerful and friendly demeanour and willingness to help colleagues mean that he’s cherished and revered in his department, and a real asset to our profession.”
The London region took the UK Team of the Year award thanks to the radiology team at King’s College Hospital.
They were praised for their outstanding response in the face of extraordinarily trying circumstances, including the London Bridge terror attack and the Grenfell Tower fire.
Gareth praised their ‘resilience, ability to rally round and absolute focus on helping their patients’, qualities, which saw them come through the most difficult circumstances.
He added: “They define what a radiology team is all about.”
You can read more about the winners in the awards brochure.
A full list of the winners is below:
UK and Eastern Region Radiographer of the Year - Sam Penry from Broomfield Hospital.
London Radiographer of the Year - Harry Smyth from King’s College Hospital.
Midlands Radiographer of the Year - Susan Johnson from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Scotland Radiographer of the Year - Margaret Low from Ninewells Hospital.
South East Radiographer of the Year - Lisa Marie Revans from Berkshire Cancer Centre.
South West Radiographer of the Year - Hilary Rose from Weston General Hospital.
Wales Radiographer of the Year - Julie Burnage from Diagnostic Healthcare.
Yorkshire and North Trent Radiographer of the Year - Amy Richards from Leeds General Infirmary.
Diagnostic Radiography Student of the Year - Laura Bonner from University of the West of England.
Therapeutic Radiography Student of the Year - Amy Walkman from University of the West of England.
UK and London Radiography Team of the Year - Radiology Team from King’s College Hospital.
Midlands Radiography Team of the Year - NBI Mammography Team from Nottingham University Hospitals.
Northern Radiography Team of the Year - Reporting radiographers from City Hospitals in Sunderland.
Northern Ireland Radiography Team of the Year - Truebeam Therapeutic Radiographers from the Belfast City Hospital.
North West Radiography Team of the Year - Cardiac Radiographers from North Cumbria Hospitals Trust.
South West Radiography Team of the Year - Cross Sectional Imaging Team from Weston General Hospital.
Radiography Team of the Year for Yorkshire and North Trent - Ultrasound Team from Sherwood Forest Hospitals.
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