Each year The British Geriatrics Society bestows two Rising Star Awards, one for
research contributions that have translated into, or are in the process of being translated into, improvements to care of older people. The second is for clinical quality or work project that demonstrates that the nominee has improved the care of older people with frailty in their locality. Applications are now open and full details are at the end of this blog. Below two past Rising Star Award Winners discuss their careers, and how winning the award has benefitted them.
Daniel Davis, Rising Star Award Winner 2015
“I joined the BGS as a medical student and ever since, the Society has played a part in my professional development. From a medical student elective grant to go to Johns Hopkins, through to two Specialist Registrar Travel Grants (I was an Specialist Registrar for 9 years….) to gain skills in epidemiology (with Ken Rockwood in Halifax, Nova Scotia) and biostatistics (with Carole Dufouil at INSERM, Paris), each time, assistance from the BGS has led to career-changing opportunities.
I am now an academic at UCL and honorary consultant at UCLH. Alongside my continued work with the National Survey for Health and Development at the MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, I am funded through a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship. This gives me the opportunity to set up a new epidemiological resource: the Delirium and Population Health Informatics Cohort (DELPHIC) study. This will track a population-representative sample before, during and after hospitalisation in order to understand how acute illness can adversely affect trajectories of cognitive and functional decline. Hopefully, this will be the start of an independent academic career and by establishing a research programme, would like to attract other geriatricians into research.”
Romero-Ortuno Roman, Rising Star Award Winner 2015
“I was both privileged and delighted to be one of the recipients of the 2015 BGS Rising Star Awards, in recognition of my research contributions.
My experience of being a BGS Rising Star has been a very positive one. Firstly, the award has given me a very visible opportunity (for example, through the BGS blog, social media and platform presentation in the 2016 Spring Meeting) to showcase my research contributions and outline my future research plans. This has attracted interest to my research and facilitated new research contacts and potential collaborations.
In think that the Rising Star Award does not only recognise an individual clinician or researcher, but also pays credit to his or her affiliated departments, institutions, and mentors. In that regard, I would like to thank Prof. Rose Anne Kenny (Trinity College Dublin), Prof. Kenneth Rockwood (Dalhousie University), and Prof. Kay-Tee Khaw and Prof. Carol Brayne (Cambridge University). I also feel very fortunate to be working in the young and dynamic Department of Medicine for the Elderly in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
I would like to congratulate the BGS for inaugurating this award and I would strongly encourage young doctors, nurses and AHPs to apply in order to achieve recognition for the many exceptional contributions that early career clinicians and researchers are making to the field of older people’s health care.”
More about the BGS Rising Star Award
Both awards are made to BGS members who have a programme of ongoing research or relevant project work. The awards are awarded within 15 years of graduation from medical school, or achievement of first relevant degree, to those who have already made a significant impact in the healthcare of older people above what would normally be expected at that stage of a career.
The Award is open to doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who fulfil the criteria.
Recipients of the award will be expected to present a summary of their work in a platform presentation during the BGS Scientific Conference where they receive their award. The winner will be presented with a certificate by the BGS President at the meeting and their award publicised in the BGS Newsletter and in the BGS website as well as the BGS Social Media outlets, Twitter, Blog and in our E-Bulletin.
How to apply
Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel that would then make recommendations to the Trustees. The panel will be representative of the main BGS areas of work (policy, quality, and academia), and will consist of:
- The BGS Vice President of Academic Affairs
- The BGS Vice President of Clinical Quality
- The BGS Hon. Dep Secretary
- The BGS Chief Executive
- A representative from the BGS Nursing Special Interest Group
An application should consist of an A4 two page supporting statement which should indicate:
- Achievements to date, current programme of work and plans for the next 3-5 years
- Presentations at, or involvement in significant events, meetings or conferences
- Strength of the individual’s academic background (academic)
- Strength of the individual’s clinical service developments (quality)
- Impact of academic publications (academic)
- Wider impact of activities and/or policy involvement (quality)
- Achievements to date, current programme of work and plans for the next 3-5 years
In addition we will require two references and a three to four page CV from the applicant.
Please send your application electronically to Joanna Gough scientificofficer@bgs.org.uk
The deadline for applications is on 1st October 2016 at 5pm. Receipt of your application will be sent to you by email.
Any queries please call Joanna Gough BGS Scientific Officer on 0207 608 8574.
British Geriatrics Society 