One of our trainee community paediatricians has won national and regional awards for her compassion and innovation.
Dr Saba Hussain has been training with Sirona for the past five years, working at settings across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
She was named the best senior paediatric trainee in the Severn Deanery at the Paediatric Award for Training Achievements (PAFTAs). She also scooped the national PAFTA senior trainee award from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
Consultant Community Paediatrician, Dr Latha Chandramouli, nominated Saba for the award for being an empathetic clinician, a great team player and a committed and hard-working trainee.
Speaking about her achievement, Saba said: “I feel shocked and proud to have won the award. I won, not just because I worked hard, but because of the wonderful support from our Paediatric department. They are so welcoming, supporting and motivating.
“I’ve been helped so much by my educational supervisors over the years – Dr Tamsin Woodbridge, Dr Latha Chandramouli, Dr Emma Bradley and Dr Jo Brooks. They have been exceptional and given me so many great opportunities. It’s a great team and the training and experience is brilliant.”
Saba was commended for her work on a Safeguarding Quality Improvement Project, for taking on the role of senior liaison trainee and for carrying out a peer review for the RCPCH.
In her nomination, Dr Chandramouli praised Saba for being ‘curious, compassionate, clinically sound, and innovative’.
She said: “Saba is a committed hard working community paediatric trainee, who I have had the pleasure to supervise in the past year. She is an empathetic clinician and advocates for children as can be seen in team meetings and her interaction with other agencies.
“This is an outstanding achievement as it is a competitive process. Well done, Saba and truly well deserved.”
Saba finishes her training in September and has already secured a role as Consultant Paediatrician for Sirona in North Somerset.
Lorraine McMullen, Sirona’s Associate Director for Children’s Services, said: “I’m delighted to hear of this fantastic news. Congratulations, Saba, and I know how valued and supported our trainees are within Sirona.
“I’m thrilled that Saba will now form part of our consultant group working across children’s services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.”
Last year, the Community Paediatric team at Sirona received an ‘excellent’ rating from Health Education England South West for the quality of education it offers to junior doctors.
In 2022, the team at Eastgate House in Bristol won a PAFTA for Training Environment of the Year, while Consultant Community Paediatrician Dr Clare Sheehan was awarded Educational Supervisor of the Year and Pam Ellis was named Unsung Hero for going ‘above and beyond’ in her work as a clinic assistant.
Dr Kathryn Bateman, Sirona’s Chief Medical Officer, said: “My congratulations to Saba. This is a fantastic achievement and much deserved. It is also testament to our wonderful Paediatric Team which has won widespread recognition and numerous awards for the support and experiences given to trainees.”