Inspire Awards 2024 - Meet the winners

Sustainability Champion

Dr Munro Stewart

Dr Munro Stewart has shown unwavering dedication to sustainable practice over the last 5 years, has worked tirelessly to keep environmental issues high on the agenda and to act on climate and sustainability matters for our UK population. He has been pivotal at jointly developing RCGP Scotland's climate change action plan 2021-2026 and was a core source of expertise at RCGP's Sustainable Health Summit. He is a driver of the strategic priority to respond to the climate emergency and his efforts in this field are simply inspiring.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Champion

Dr Neil Singh

Dr Neil Singh has dedicated his clinical and academic interests to improving the health of marginalised people, as a Senior General Practice Teaching Fellow at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. He was Clinical Lead for two primary care health inequalities projects in Brighton and is currently Head of the Homeless and Inclusion Health service in East Sussex. He led a year-long anti-racism training series to 900 NHS/social care/charity sector staff throughout Sussex. His writing on race has been published in the Guardian and the Independent and was also featured in “Our NHS: A Hidden History”, a major BBC documentary on NHS racism.

GP Content Creator

Dr Hussain Gandhi

Dr Hussasin Gandhi’s work over the past year has spanned social media platforms, with over 15k subscribers on YouTube, and beyond, targeting healthcare professionals as well as the general public. His focus on the practical application of digital tools aims to improve patient access to information, encouraging self-care and informed decisionmaking. A notable addition to their work this year includes productivity guides aimed at helping GPs manage their workload effectively. Their engagement with the online health community through mythbuster videos on topics like Strep A, medicine accessibility, and drug shortages, as well as onboarding patient guides through the “myNHS” app, are especially commendable.

The GP Voice Award

Dr Joy Shacklock

Dr Joy Shacklock is embedded in RCGP policy work, specifically in the field of safeguarding, having been the safeguarding representative for the RCGP since 2017.

In her role, she passionately champion safeguarding efforts, representing the voices of GPs on a national level. She has strategically engaged and built influential relationships and represent the College externally to a great number of organisations. Her work includes developing RCGP safeguarding toolkits and e-learning modules, providing safeguarding sessions at the RCGP Annual Conference and facilitating safeguarding training sessions.

GP Educator

Dr Azhar Chaudhry

As the training lead for their practice, Dr Azhar Chaudhry has cultivated a remarkably supportive and inclusive learning environment, particularly for our international medical graduate (IMG) GP trainees. He also teaches the 'Family Medicine Certificate' course at Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan. His commitment to supporting aspiring healthcare professionals reflects his passion for mentorship and his drive to see others succeed in their careers.

GPSoc 2024

University of Nottingham GP Society

Uni of Nottingham GP Society was dormant for a number of years following the pandemic, but in the last 18 months has been reignited. This year, the society has hosted several events, including an induction event for first-year medical students and 'Help a Mate' Mental Health First Aid training.

They have launched two series on Social media, including the GP Information series and have also created the 'Placement Pocketbook' which has been used by students going on placement to support their studies. Their greatest achievement this year was organising their first-ever University GPSoc Conference, with 40 delegates from across the region. They have introduced the Professional Development Scheme, the first of its kind which aims to inspire the next generation of General Practitioners.

Future GP

Dr Emma Tonner

Dr Emma Tonner has been a volunteer and advocate for the College since she was a student. She has co-chaired the RCGP Medical Student and Foundation Doctor Committee, has undertaken roles in leadership education and through her work has brought greater visibility and teaching focused on Primary Care to leadership curricula. She has strongly advocated for accessible opportunities for undergraduate students, foundation doctors and other early career professionals. Though currently taking some time to pursue an opportunity as FMLM National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow before beginning training. She has dedicated her time to supporting expansion of research opportunities in general practice, an area that could have a huge impact on how we care for our patients effectively.

Early Career GP

Dr Gorkem Hamali

Dr Gorkem Hamali has been a large part of setting up a West of Scotland First5 network in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, and each year since. He served as chair of the RCGP Scotland AiT/First5 committee up to this year and continues to have input as West of Scotland faculty’s representative on RCGP Scotland Council. His approach to being an agent of change as an early career GP has inspired many, and the current members of the AiT/First5 committee in Scotland continue this legacy. He is ambitious in his scope and energetic in seeking the changes he knows will make a difference.

Established GP

Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee

Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee’s leadership stems from her deep-seated belief in the power of education and meaningful dialogue to affect positive change.

Her dedication to promoting positive discussions on discrimination and inclusion of doctors with chronic illness or disability exemplifies her contribution to the field. She is a strong believer in enabling people to harness their potential to grow, thrive, and flourish and has focused her work on fulfilling this passion.

Highly Commended Later Career or Retired GP

Dr David Rapley

Dr David Rapley has been an inspiration to the LCARM community group. When he first became the LCARM lead for his Faculty he brought ideas and knowledge which contributed greatly to the development of the lively group they have today. He encouraged the LCARM support package to offer pastoral care, peer support, and technical information. While he recently stepped down from his LCARM and RCGP roles, he still keeps in touch and continues to be a source of wisdom and sound advice.

Later Career or Retired GP

Dr Anne Connolly MBE

Dr Anne Connolly for over a decade, has curated content for, chaired and delivered presentations at RCGP One Day Essentials conferences and webinars focusing on women's health. She is a GPwSI in gynaecology, an accredited hysteroscopist, FSRH trainer and she also serves as the chair of the PCWHF (Primary Care Women's Health Forum)… she also co-edits "Women's Health in Primary Care” publication. Her wealth of experience and unwavering dedication has earned her widespread regard and respect, solidifying her status as a distinguished professional in her field.

Inspiring Fellow

Dr Simon Tobin

Dr Simon Tobin has been a huge advocate for Fellowship for many years and reinforced his commitment to enhancing the Mersey faculty’s Fellowship community by joining and promoting the Faculty Fellowship Committee. He has played a crucial leadership role in the recent development of RCGPs Fellowship programme and has been involved with the Fellowship Oversight team nationally. His dedication to encourage as many members as possible to consider Fellowship is infectious, and some would say, second nature.

Highly Commended Best Collaboration

Dr Maisun Elftise and Dr Ayesha Mahmud Learning Disability Friendly Surgery Badge

Our Highly Commended collaboration is one that brings together a diverse range of expertise and perspectives, blending clinical proficiency with community insight and lived experiences. The collaborative pair have developed a kitemark standard aimed at enhancing the quality of Annual Health Checks, ensuring the continuity of this quality, and promoting holistic care for individuals with learning disabilities.

Best Collaboration

Northern Faculties Shaping the Future | Leadership programme

The Best Collaboration award goes to a group who have developed a leadership programme in collaboration with the Faculties in the North and the Professional Standards Department. Through two years of development, they have now offered over 50 members the opportunity to be involved in a college led leadership programme. A first of its kind. The programme illustrates all that is great about collaboration across the college and how when we work together, we can achieve something amazing.

Highly Commended Vibrant Faculty

RCGP Rural Forum Improving health equity in rural areas

RCGP Rural Forum has worked tirelessly to give rural GPs a voice. They aim to advance the College's objectives in rural practice; facilitate communication and networking of rural doctors in the UK and support the professional development of rural GPs. In June 2023, they worked in collaboration with the National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine, to host a conference in Penrith Changing practice, changing outcomes which attracted over 100 delegates per day and offered a hugely varied programme of inspirational talks from GPs and other medical professionals across rural medicine.

Vibrant Faculty

Midland Diversity Conference 2023

Midland Faculty has delivered a ‘first of its kind’ event for their region. Their New EDI Lead and a team of committed trainees and GPs worked tirelessly to create an event that covered as many different protected characteristics as possible.

With a great number of topics such as IMG, LGBTQ+, Neurodiversity and disability, Mature GPs, GP parents, Race and religion, reflecting not just important local work, but the EDI agenda as ‘one College’ too

Faculty Champion

Dr Aaliya Goyal

Dr Aaliya Goyal is a Faculty Board member who has helped to consolidate her Faculty’s national profile as a beacon of innovative and inclusive practice. Her commitment to inclusivity extends across protected characteristics. As well as supporting Members, she supports Faculty teams, representing them at every opportunity and carrying out College work to an exceptional standard. She widens the Faculty’s reach using her online presence, which has been used as an exemplar in College social media training. She participated as the first diverse Vice Chair of her Faculty in its history of over 70 years, while still a First5 GP.

Foundation Council Award

Prof. Amanda Howe

Prof. Amanda Howe has been a GP since 1984, and in her long and inspiring career has always been close to the College, championing its vision for Members and Fellows and for our collective vision for the College. She’s held many of the highest of leadership positions, including Vice Chair of Professional Development, Honorary Secretary and former President here at RCGP, as well as past-President of WONCA (the World Organisation of Family Doctors) and being their first female President at that! She is also Professor of Primary Care at the University of East Anglia and a Board member of the East Anglia Faculty. She has a substantive track record in educational innovation and research, is passionate about promoting women in general practice and improving the College’s work on EDI, ensuring we remain focused on this essential area of work.

Lifetime Achievement

Prof. Shiv Pande MBE

Professor Shiv Pande has given over 62 years’ service to medicine, general practice and supporting others. Graduating as a medic in 1962, he’s been passionately serving the NHS, colleagues and their communities ever since. Even now, in his mid-80s, he continues to serve RCGP, general practice and the wider NHS. Throughout his years in medicine, he has worked in India, London and finally settled in the North West of England where he has spent the last 30 years as a GP. Alongside this, he has been a pillar of the community, raising over £35,000 for various charities. Shiv is a strong supporter of minority groups and has been instrumental in setting up many associations to support local, national and international communities. His work and support of RCGP is never ending. He still attends the RCGP heritage committee meetings and RCGP Mersey Faculty board meetings as Treasurer. In 2022 he was awarded “Citizen of Honour” by the City of Liverpool in recognition of his tireless work for the NHS and communities in Merseyside. We were joined by some of his family who accepted the award on his behalf.