Fauzia Khan, a multi award winning assistant psychologist at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has added another award to her collection, after being named a winner in this year’s Asian Professionals’ National Alliance (APNA) NHS Awards.
Fauzia was selected as the winner in the Rising Star category of the APNA NHS Awards in recognition for her work in promoting psychology and her own personal journey 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 was selected as a winner in 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 win, Fauzia said: “I was up against so many inspirational colleagues for this award and was really humbled to not only be shortlisted as a finalist, but to also win the award. It really is such an honour and privilege to have my work recognised by the APNA NHS network, who do such important work in promoting diversity and inclusion, and in hosting a platform to recognise the achievements of individuals from global majority backgrounds. I’d also like to say a warm thank you to everyone, past and present, that has been a part of my journey for their unwavering support.”