London Division Awards
These awards have been organised to celebrate excellence in Mental Health Care provision in the London region.
The London Division are happy to announce nominations are now open for our 2025 Awards.
The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, 12 June from 5.30-8pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
These are the fourth London Division RCPsych awards. Through the awards we are hoping to uncover, acknowledge, and celebrate the work being done both regionally and locally, to help improve mental health care/psychiatric care, and the experience of care for people in London. We are looking for 'Real Heroes' who enhance the experiences of patients as well as the provision of services.
We are therefore not just seeking research or academia, we are also looking for more patient and clinical focused work, exceptional workplace examples, how one’s work has improved the care of patients and carers, and how one has improved collaborative teamwork.
Finalists will be shortlisted using RCPsych national criteria. Relevant and interesting parts of finalists’ applications may be shared as part of promotional work, the College website, and the awards ceremony.
Before nominating, please review the relevant documents and make note of the following key points:
- Please read our London Awards 2025 rules for entry
- If you would like to nominate someone, please see our nominations forms below for each category.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
The closing date for nominations has now been extended to Thursday, 8 May 2025.
If you have any questions regarding the awards, please contact division.events@rcpscyh.ac.uk.
Award categories
Nomination forms and criteria
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Medical Student 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
Psychiatry training in the Foundation Years provides an important opportunity to improve trainee’s knowledge, skills and attitudes towards mental health and to consider pursuing careers in psychiatry thereby providing an opportunity to attract the best trainees to the specialty. This award is to recognise a foundation doctor who has demonstrated exceptional performance and dedication during their foundation training placements in London. In particular, recognition to their clinical skills, understanding of mental health disorders, patient empathy and kindness, and showing a commitment to the field of psychiatry thereby raising the profile of the specialty.
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Foundation Doctor 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
This award is for resident doctors (CT1 – CT3) who have demonstrated through their clinical performance and practice that they have attained a level of achievement over and above that expected for their grade. The person nominated should work and/or live in London and should be a member or associate (including PMPT) of the College.
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Core Resident Doctor 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
This award is for resident doctors (ST4 – ST6 and SpR) who have demonstrated through their clinical performance and practice that they have attained a level of achievement over and above that expected for their grade. The person nominated should work and/or live in London and should be a member or associate of the College.
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Higher Resident Doctor 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
Nominations can be for individuals or patient/carer groups. Nominees should work and/or live in London. Individual patients/carers or groups directly involved in the work of the College can be nominated for work they do for the College.
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Patient Carer Contributor 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
The person nominated for this award should work and/or live in London and should be a member or associate of the College.
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Psychiatrist of the Year 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
Specialty Doctors/Associate Specialists (SAS doctors) are essential components of service provision, providing a major share of the medical input in many teams. This award is to recognise an SAS doctor who has demonstrated advanced clinical skills as well as excelling in service development, teaching, research and leadership. Their contribution may be at local or regional level. The person nominated should work and/or live in London and should be a member or associate of the College.
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Specialty Assoc Specialist 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
This category is open to nominations for educational supervisors, clinical supervisors, college tutors, rotational training scheme organisers, heads of schools, and any psychiatrists who can demonstrate a significant contribution to the training of trainee psychiatrists, medical undergraduates or medical professionals. The contribution may be at local or regional level. This award is only open to individuals. Nominees should work and/or live in London.
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Psychiatric Educator 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
This award is to recognise the pivotal role that psychiatric teams play in improving or innovating psychiatric services and care in London. Teams must be located within the London Division and should contain at least one psychiatrist who is a member or associate of the College.
Please use these steps to complete your nomination:
- Read the London Awards 2025 rules for entry before submitting the nomination.
- Use the London Psychiatric Team of the Year 2025 entry form to provide details of the nomination.
- Please note, that the entry will not be valid until we receive a completed London Awards 2025 good standing form from the nominee.
Award Winners 2024
Winner
Varsha Krishnan 
Varsha is a Medical Student at Imperial College Medical School, London and was nominated by Dr Sam Mayrouz.
Varsha is a 5th year Imperial student who is described as being highly driven, conscientious, hardworking and very motivated. She engaged really well and was highly reflective using every opportunity to learn during her psychiatry placement. She formed a great rapport with patients and was felt to have quickly become part of the multidisciplinary team in the 6 week period of her attachment. ?Her clinical skills and knowledge were way above those of the majority of her colleagues at a similar stage of training.
Runner Up
- Aryan Arora
Winner
Dr Lucy Dundas
Lucy is a Foundation Year one Doctor at Barts Health NHS Trust and was nominated by Dr David Prior.
Lucy was nominated by her intellectual disability team as they felt she excelled throughout her foundation placement and was the ideal candidate for the award. Lucy clearly made a big impact, and the team were impressed that she showed empathy, excellent clinical skills and courage, which built impactful relationships with the patients and staff. She had a large role in a QIP project where she facilitated a focus group, and she also developed a teaching programme for medical students which supported them during their rotation. This is a lot to achieve in a 4-month placement.
Winner
Dr Gabriella Bernstein
Gabriella is a CT3 at Central and North West London NHS Trust and was nominated by Dr Abiram Selladurai.
Gabi has been an outstanding core trainee and engaged in Quality Improvement at a level way beyond expectation of a Core Trainee. From August 2023, she has also co-led a pilot regional teaching programme for CT3s in supporting them with essential skills before becoming an SpR. This educational project has received excellent feedback from trainees and the hope is that this will now be a sustained teaching programme offered by the North West London Scheme. Her outstanding acumen is reflected by her ranking first amongst all trainees applying for higher training.
Runners Up
- Dr Lucia Almazan-Sanchez
- Dr Jeremy Wong
Winner
Dr Mutahira M Qureshi 
Dr Qureshi is a ST5 at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and was nominated by Dr Rana Rao and Professor Young.
Mutahira delivers an exemplary standard of clinical care motivating her MDT to excel. She goes above and beyond for the people in her care, uses her own time outside of working hours which demonstrates her care and dedication. A very helpful and reliable doctor who always puts her patients first. Her first-authored paper on RCT of Ketamine in Healthy volunteers is nearing publication and her two book chapters on mood disorders and psychopharmacology are in pre-print stage. Mutahira’s extraordinary contributions in clinical care, patient safety, teaching and leadership outstrips others, and her research output excels ACFs.
Runners Up
Dr Alan Baban | Dr Wala Salman |
Winner
Diane Goslar
Diane is a patient/carer rep for the RCPsych and a patient member of the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) and was nominated by Karen Morgan.
Diane was nominated because she is the epitome of being the voice of patients and ensuring that the needs of patients and carers are incorporated into all actions the College and the Division do. Diane has herself faced her own personal demons in the past relating to alcohol and mental illness. She has shown personal courage in overcoming these as well as showing courage in being open to others about her past problems.
She has written many articles around alcohol addiction, recovery, the stigma surrounding alcohol and mental health, and how all this affects the mind. She also wrote the RCPsych Guidelines leaflet – recovering from addiction. She promotes mental health as a high priority in London and the impact that mental health can have on individuals. She is the true voice of patients and Psychiatry.
Runner Up
Fahima Abdi |
Winner
Christopher Bench
Dr Bench is a Consultant Psychiatrist at West London NHS Trust and was nominated by Dr Raquin Cherian.
Dr Bench has significantly contributed to psychiatry through his dedication to patient care, teaching, mentorship, research, medical management, and community engagement for decades and throughout 2023. Dr Bench works as a consultant psychiatrist in a deprived area of London. His empathetic approach and deep understanding of psychiatric disorders have earned him respect from colleagues, juniors, and patients.
He has published 62 papers and authored 9 chapters on neuropsychiatric conditions. He is a prominent figure in undergraduate and postgraduate education.
He has held various leadership roles including Clinical Director of Primary and Planned Care from 2014 to 2019. He is recognised for his exceptional contributions to psychiatry, unwavering commitment to patient care, and efforts to advance mental health awareness.
Runners Up
Dr Ekaterina (Kate) Doukova | Dr Sachin Patel |
Winner
Dr Angela Misra
Dr Misra is a Specialty Doctor at Cygnet Healthcare and was nominated by Dr Omer Malik.
Dr Misra has made significant impacts in all areas of her work with patients and team on a local level, driving innovation in her service, focusing on service improvements that would benefit all patients in the locality. In Education, she is involved in setting up simulation training across her organisation for staff to learn from SUI’s. She has also set up her local Peer Group and led her colleagues to prepare for the MRCPsych exam, serving as a Role Model for career progression.
On a National Level she has been involved in the National Rehab Steering Group and her Quality Improvement poster has been selected for the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare London.
Overall, Dr Misra best exemplified the RCPsych Values of Courage, Innovation, Respect, Collaboration, Learning, and Excellence.
Runners Up
- Dr Ahad Jan
- Dr Nilufar Majid
Winner
Kingston Care Home Liaison Team South West London and St. George’s NHS Trust
Kingston Care Home Liaison Team South West London and St. George’s NHS Trust was nominated by Dr Maria (Lola) Velazquez Guerra.
In 2022, the team identified a gap in care for people with the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) living in care homes, developed a business case and secured funding for a small, dedicated service. The team worked closely with care staff and families to develop the service to meet their needs and developed a stepped-care model with standard procedures to maximise time for personalised interventions, quality and effectiveness. During the first year there has been a statistically significant reduction in BPSD frequency (p = .048) and, best of all, a significant increase in quality of life (p=.019). The intervention approach is collaborative and person-centred.
Runners Up
| Barnet Adult Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) | Royal Free Children and Young People’s Eating Disorder Service |
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Winner
Dr Omer Malik
Dr Malik is a Medical Director and Consultant Psychiatrist at Churchill Cygnet Hospital and was nominated by Dr Angela Misra.
Dr Malik is greatly appreciated for supporting and encouraging Cygnet Churchill doctors in their career progression e.g. MRCPsych exams and CESR pathway. He is MDT teaching lead and by using his innovative teaching methods and by using simulation, he encouraged MDT staff to improve their skills and hence shifted the culture towards learning and away from blaming each other which has improved quality of patient care.
Dr Malik is a Medical Academic Lead for the monthly London and South Cygnet CPD programme for doctors, since August 2020 and greatly improved the quality of the CPD programme by standardising MDT Grand Rounds with integrated learning and inviting external speakers to enrich learning.
Dr Malik has led on Co-production of Pilot Rehab care plans that allowed more collaborative working between the professionals and the patients. As a result, patients are taking responsibility of their care plans. The pilot programme was endorsed by the National steering Cygnet rehab group and Dr Malik is truly valued for his role as mentor and appraiser.
Runners Up
| Dr Daniel Andrews | Dr Bernard Chin |
Dr Suhana Ahmed
Suhana embodies the College's values, making a profound difference in her clinical team to her patients, their care networks, and her staff; in the older persons' service line she runs as Clinical Director in West London, where she has transformed the ethos and culture, turning around a struggling division in a little over a year; and nationally through the London Division and other College work where she remains a beacon of integrity, hard work, and compassionate leadership.
Her story inspires many, including me. Her empathic, warm and caring style is influenced by her upbringing and personality, and she has been frank and honest about the difficulties she has endured, including in her own struggles with mental illness. She has used this to forge opportunities for others to speak up in confidence. She remains a role model for so many, not least other future women leaders, particularly from minority ethnic backgrounds. Time and again Suhana breaks glass ceilings for others to follow, and she lives the principles of lift as you climb.
She remains a humble and unassuming person, and I know she would be the first to put others forward for such an accolade, and the last to accept it herself. I wish to speak out on her behalf, knowing that she would not do it herself. I am entirely confident I only echo what so many others will say about her.
By Professor Derek Tracy