News

On 8th March, the SST launched a social media campaign in support of International Women’s Day, showcasing the fantastic work of our members around the world. This year’s theme was #breakthebias and a huge thank you goes out to everyone who got involved, showcasing how they break the bias in the practice of Sports Therapy. Check out our Instagram Highlights: instagram.com/thesstofficial  Many thanks to: • Maria Westwell – Director of Injury Mechanics, Bolton • Jennifer Wilson – Lead/Senior Lecturer in Sport Therapy, University of Derby • Ellie Taylor – Owner of Tailored Therapy and Sports Therapist, Gornal Athletic FC • Nicole Burns – Lead Therapist, Liversedge FC • Ashleigh Griffiths – AG Sports Therapy, South Wales • Jenna Orr – Head Therapist, Stenhousemuir FC • Sports Therapy Students and Staff from University of Hertfordshire • Sian Lee – Sports Therapist, Sleaford Town FC and Grantham Town FC Academy • Danielle Garfoot – DS Sports Therapy, Waverley, Surrey • Shiann and Amani – Sport and Exercise Therapy Students from Coventry University • Hannah Gray – Sports Therapy Student from University of Chichester • Emily Goss – MSK Practitioner, NHS Southern Health • Rachel Bevans – Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Therapy, Coventry University • Sophie Castle – Sports Therapy Student from University of Chichester • Sophie Vowden – Owner of SV Sports Therapy, London • Naomi Huggins and Kirsten Wing – NM Sports Therapy Clinic, Cheltenham • Sally Smith and Rachel Lund – Associate Lecturers from University of Worcester    

FREE SST Webinar Series is back! You are invited to attend the first in our 2022 SST Webinar Series: The Role of Psychology within Injury and Rehabilitation Date :   Wednesday 30th March Time :   7:00pm – 8:15pm BST Cost  :   FREE The format will be a presentation followed by a Q&A discussion Hayley Clarke Chair of The Society of Sports Therapists Communications Group and Assistant Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Therapy Coventry University, will host the event Confirmed Panellists: Dr Dale Forsdyke | Dale is a sports injury educator, researcher, and practitioner. *         Member of The Society of Sports Therapists *         Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer at York St John University *         Active sports injury researcher and has contributed to several publications, books, and international conferences *         Head of Science and Medicine at York City Tier One  Regional Talent Club (RTC) *         Works across a variety of sports in both sports injury and performance roles, including the FA Talent Pathway and Goalball UK Dr Adam Gledhill | Adam holds a variety of academic and professional roles. *             Course Director: Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Leeds Beckett University *             Deputy Chair of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) *             Chair of the BASES Division of Psychology. *             Adam’s applied practice has seen him hold roles including Head of Sport Science in  professional women’s football and Head of Psychosocial Development                   in a Tier 1 RTC, *             Editor of The Sport and Exercise Scientist *             Associate Editor with the British Journal of Sports Medicine For further details and to register click here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/7316481380746/WN_oEbZdAQBReyOPzDbev5vSw *Please note: CPD certificates can only be issued to registered attendees. For any registration queries, please email: comms@thesst.org      

The Board of Directors of The Society of Sports Therapists is pleased to announce the appointment of Elite Performance Partners (EPP) to assist in the recruitment of a Chief Executive Officer. The Society is looking to build on the strong foundations laid over the past 32 years and to move forward with strong leadership, vision and ambition, as it continues on the next stage of its journey. EPP has a proven track record in recruiting, supporting and helping to develop high-performing teams. Their former clients include national governing bodies, sports clubs, teams and leagues globally, including EIS, FIFA, FA and WRU. The recruitment process will be led by EPP Partners Anna Edwards and Dave Slemen who have vast experience and success in placing leadership talent across sport and the corporate world.  

At the last Society of Sports Therapists’ Board meeting of 2021, Group responsibilities for individual Directors were determined and agreed.  Each Group has been assigned a lead Director together with a Support Director.*     *The Charles Whitney Team will directly support Director Kristian Weaver and the Communications Group in their Marketing and PR role. If you have any specific enquiries regarding any of the above groups, please send your enquiry to comms@society-of-sports-therapist.org and mark it for the attention of the Lead and/or Support Director

Society Member James Adams topped off a great 2021 by gaining a Distinction in his Masters in Sport and Exercise Science at London Metropolitan University (LMU) and winning the Best Student Poster Award at the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) 2021 conference. James, completed an undergraduate degree programme in Sports Therapy as a mature student aged 30, also at LMU and he was awarded a First Class Honours degree. His research has focused on the fascinating sport of Parkour; only officially recognised as a sport in 2017, and looking at ground reaction forces. Not only is the sport relatively new, as James discovered as he did his preliminary research, so is his own research, as he found no other studies looking at the same movements, at that time. James was interviewed by the LMU team and it is a great read. You can find the article here at:                                       https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/profiles/students/james-adams/

Nick Mulryan was born with multiple sensory impairments (sight and hearing) and as a result, the Guide Dogs community has played a key role in his life, and even led to him discovering his calling to become a Sports Therapist*. Nick founded No.1 Pain Relief Clinic in Buxton in 2011 and he is the Lead Therapist at the practice. Nick is also a Member of the Society’s Communications Group and has previously given insights on how to make the  Society’s communications more accessible to all Members. Recently we chatted to him about how he navigates the world with the help of his Guide Dog, Willmott: Tell us a little about your disability and the importance of having a guide dog for you personally Willmott provides greater independence with my mobility, safely negotiating me around potential hazards such as pedestrianised obstacles and traffic – particularly electric vehicles that can be difficult to hear. Willmott also enables me to get up and go, swiftly assisting me to locate shops, navigating medical seminar venues as well as working in the field of sport behind the scenes, by locating the treatment room and walking to and from work. He has a very good memory for returning to previous locations. Your last guide dog Comfort passed away suddenly. How were you supported afterwards? I was supported by ‘Guide Dogs’ through this ordeal, with counselling if I felt I needed it. Although COVID-19 was a devastating period for many people due to work and lockdown restrictions, on reflection, I felt I had more quality time with Comfort – we had some fabulous walks in and around the Peak District. It reminded me how precious life is and what we can do as therapists to improve the quality of life for others. Comfort kept wanting to help and please me, even at the end when her health prevented her from performing properly. Tell us about Willmott Willmott is a two years old cross between a Golden Retriever and German Shepherd – ‘Guide Dogs’ like to interbreed complimenting qualities: a  Retriever is calm and a Shepherd is driven and hardworking. He loves playing catch with a frisbee (a somewhat haphazard activity with a visually impaired person!) What does the training with a guide dog involve? How long does it usually take for it to be able to fully support you? It takes about two years to train a guide dog – from puppy onwards. Each dog is chosen for its suitability, it has to have the right temperament. There is a great deal of both basic and advanced training (dealing with obstacles and kerbs etc), the final part is tailored to the client’s needs. For example, Willmott and I have had training on the London underground as a specific task. What are a Willmott’s main duties? He helps me find places I visit regularly and locate entrances and exits to shops, pedestrian crossings and of course his free run area. He helps me avoid obstacles enroute and centrally walk across crossings and along the pavements, stopping at kerbs and steps. He will also be aware of obstacles above or to the side, such as overhanging branches, vehicle tailgates, he’s even trained to give my right shoulder extra space to pass obstacles (I hold him with my left hand). What does Willmott help you with on a day when you’re not at work? Willmott provides me with greater independence and companionship when we’re both ‘off duty’. I don’t have to always rely on other people to go places. Willmott enables me to get up and exercise every day. He enjoys going for a regular free-run where he is allowed to chase a frisbee and enjoy some unleashed fun. He’s also great at barking when the doorbell rings. What’s the biggest challenge of having a guide dog? People distracting the guide dog by petting or fussing without your consent, it’s especially troublesome when crossing the road or working in a shop (particularly when trying to maintain social distancing). Although sighted motorists think it’s a nice gesture to let you cross the road, stopping their vehicle only confuses the dog as it is waiting for a clear gap in the road. Is Willmott allowed to interact with other people around you and vice-versa? Willmott is permitted to socialise and interact with other people providing he’s out of harness. If a guide dog is wearing a harness, the dog is working and therefore shouldn’t be distracted. Did the pandemic restrictions impact your guide dogs’ behaviour in any way? The pandemic limited the amount of time spent training in public places such as shops and public transport. It also limited the time Willmott could be brought up to train with me. Luckily, he is well cared for by various volunteers and instructors who continued with his advanced outdoor training. When treating a patient, is there anything Members can do to help guide dogs and their owners? When guiding a visually impaired person, stand on the opposite side to the guide dog, it often helps if you let them hold your elbow. Ask the owner for permission to pet the dog but really, it is best to ignore the dog entirely. Refer to the patient by name, and describe the process as clearly as possible (be aware they possibly can’t read body language), explaining where the head end of the table is for example. If describing an exercise, no matter how trivial, inform them where you are placing your hands to avoid any embarrassment. Be aware of the tone of your voice too – try and sound interesting, not monotone and boring. Is there anything else you’d like people to know about guide dogs and their owners? Guide dogs are working animals, it doesn’t help to offer them treats or special attention as this will distract them from their task and cause extra work for the visually impaired person. *Find out how a voluntary blind dog fundraiser, in remission from cancer, steered Nick towards Sports Therapy – https://thesst.org/news/a-blind-mans-journey-to-being-a-sports-therapist/ Editor’s note: If you are a Member working in Sports Therapy with a disability, whatever it may be, and would like to share your journey, do get in touch, we would love to hear from you. Email comms@thesst.org

What is this new group that we’re introducing? The Society of Sports Therapists (SST) has completed the latest phase of developing its strategic approach to equity, diversity and inclusion. The ‘Network for Engagement in Equity, Diversity, and Social-Structural Strategy’, or NEEDSs, represents the framework and foundation for the next phase. Work is now underway to form the SST NEEDSs group to help shape the objectives and subsequent engagement activities. The group will be instrumental in developing the final strategy and objectives, and will have a key role in supporting the pursuit of SST NEEDSs policy and practices from 2022 onwards. The SST NEEDSs group will be a brand new group for 2022 that will comprise of Society Members and Student Members and will include representation from the Board of Directors. Why should you apply to be a member of the NEEDSs group? There are numerous benefits for members who join the group. These include opportunities to: network and develop professional connections add group experiences, activities and achievements to your CV help develop the professional body on behalf of members engage in social justice activism in solidarity with others have potential for future member benefits use as part of your CPD SST commitment What does being in the NEEDSs group involve? Group members will share roles and responsibilities in a supportive, teamwork based approach, with rotating team leaders. Members will meet: as required, for example, once per month for 2hrs online as required, for example, once every 3 months in person (travel/ food/ accommodation expenses provided) In meetings, members will consider and discuss various aspects of SST policy and practices with the aim of supporting the Society towards improved Equity, Diversity, and Social-Structural relations. Full terms and responsibilities to be agreed as an outcome of the group’s first meeting.  How to apply? If you want to join the SST NEEDSs group, please email admin@thesst.org attaching a brief explanation of why you want to join and why you are suitable. Members may send either one of the following: 150 word written explanation – send via email to Head Office at address above or 1 minute video recording – send via https://www.wetransfer.com – it’s free to send 1 minute audio recording – send via email to Head Office as above or via https://www.wetransfer.com  When is the deadline to apply? Please ensure your application is received no later than Sunday January 9th 2022. Who are we looking for? The SST is looking for members who have the following criteria: Essential: a current SST Member or Student Member passionate about contributing to a more diverse and equitable profession prepared to challenge, with support, and recommend new ways of working that foster positive Equity, Diversity, and Social-Structural relations. Desirable: may have lived experience of marginalisation or oppression based on their characteristics have expertise in Equity, Diversity, and Social-Structural relations within the workplace, particularly in Sports Therapy, fitness, medical or health professions and beyond have relevant experience in identifying best practices and implementing innovative approaches in Equity, Diversity, and Social-Structural relations have an active interest in issues surrounding inequalities in MSK health Mission The SST NEEDSs Group will provide strategic advice, recommendations, and counsel to the SST Board of Directors, CEO, President and staff regarding areas or issues concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Therapy Expo 2021 was a new experience for the Society Members invited to speak on the academic programme and they rose to the challenge in style. Nine Society Members featured across the two days of the event with Society President Professor Graham N. Smith chaired a marathon day long session on day one. Dr David Rhodes, Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Elite Performance at UCLan gave Therapy Expo a fantastic start as he kicked off the talks in Theatre A looking at ‘Reducing the Risk of ACL Injuries– What you need to know.’  With the sobering thought that a third of footballers do not return to the same level of performance following an ACL injury, the focus was not on the outcome but factors influencing it.  David highlighted some major factors including the role of fatigue and load and the effects of overtraining, undertraining and deceleration. He emphasised the importance of understanding the athlete’s/patient’s sport, being specific to their needs and demands and most of all, getting their buy-in. All attending agreed that it was a superb start to the day. David was immediately followed by Mike Hine, Head of Sports Science and Medicine at Lincoln City Football Club. Mike focused on mitigating risk from an injury stance in his presentation, ‘Prevention, Preparation and Performance in Professional Football.  Mike has been with the club for over six years and showed not only his knowledge and skills but his great understanding of players and showed some brilliant video footage, capturing the players working out. Having player buy-in along with the need for them to be involved in the programme is essential. Mike has definitely mastered the art of getting the best out of players on a League One budget. It was then a quick hop over to Theatre B to listen to Adam Gaunt, Rehabilitation Specialist, at Hartpury University and College. What a treat it was. Adam’s mantra, ‘Movement is Medicine’ has a major role to play in his rehabilitation programmes. His talk contained an array of engaging videos and images with his activities continually backed up with strong and relevant references. Adam is definitely at home working with young athletes,  clearly demonstrating how his group rehabilitation programmes integrate ‘movement competency, physical durability and psychological readiness into a safe fun space.’ Five hundred and fifty seven (557!) that’s the approximate number of teams currently affiliated to the British American Football Association (BAFA) and for Ellie Travis, Lecturer in Sports Therapy at Hartpury University and Lead Sports Therapist to GB Flag Football, it highlights a fast growing need to develop a consistent approach to the  medical provision and support for both players and practitioners alike. Equipment has a key role to play in this sport and demands specialist knowledge when it comes to dealing with injuries that have the necessity for it to be removed. For Ellie, there is an urgent requirement to develop specialist training and specialised practitioners to support the players. An increase in participation is brilliant for the sport but not if at at the expense of player safety. The great news is that Ellie is working with BAFA on medical provision and strategy, including the recognition and inclusion of Society Members. The Society’s final speaker for Day One was the ‘Ice Man’ Dr Peter Thain. Peter is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy at Birmingham City University and Lead Therapist for GB Senior Women’s Basketball. Addressing the question of whether ‘To Ice of Not to Ice’, Peter first took his audience on a tour of acronyms, showing how theories have changed over time: from ICE, RICE, PRICE, POLICE, to PEACE and LOVE. From all of these, Peace and Love came nearest to ticking the boxes for Peter apart from one point – No Icing Ice acts as an analgesic not an anaesthetic and extracts heat as opposed to putting cold into a system. Peter’s work and research have shown that ice based modalities (as opposed to gel and water) are considered more effective for pain relief, for reducing inhibition and facilitating movement. Consequently, his recommendation is to ice in the first few hours along with some form of compression to minimise the swelling. It was certainly a well-received presentation that generated much discussion. Day two saw an early start for Dr Jennifer Wilson, Programme Leader for Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation at the University of Derby. She delighted her audience with her talk on ‘Preventing Soft Tissue Injuries in Elite Sport.’ She looked at steps to reduce injury risk, including physiological, psychological and mechanical stressors. Highlighting the 3 Rs; ‘Rewire, Reload and Recondition’, Jennifer also emphasised putting the athlete at the centre and connecting with other practitioners for an MDT approach. Setting a combined goal to facilitate optimal recovery in addition to optimal training is also imperative. Kim Hutt, Head of Physical Support at the London Contemporary Dance School has the perfect credentials to discuss ‘Conditioning for Performance in Elite Dance’. Along with her previous dance experience, Kim has been able to bring her Sport and Exercise Science background into the dance and performing arts arena as a therapist and she showed how screening, injury tracking, fitness testing, load (intensity, volume, work rest), and more recently psychological data have all combined to help reduce injury rates. It was an enlightening look at the importance of athleticism for the dancers in developing their careers. Over this past year mental health issues have soared up the health agenda through high profile athletes and players publicly sharing some of their experiences very publicly.  So, Dr Dale Forsdyke’s talk ‘Understanding the mental health aspect of rehab and recovery’ was very much anticipated. For Dale, a Senior Lecturer in Sports Injury Management, Director of Studies at York University, psychological factors are rarely considered in the rehab process, with the focus on physical, biological and functional aspects.  All rehabilitation needs to be psychologically informed but for Dale there are ways to make it ‘more psychologically informed’. He discussed boosting adherence and empowerment by forming a strong, non-controlling therapeutic relationship, use of multifaceted goal setting, and educating the athlete and involving them in in decision making. The therapist has a key role to play in fostering mental health during rehabilitation and recovery from injury and psychological factors are considered important precursors to more successful rehabilitation and recovery outcomes. Like the high profile athlete, Dale’s work is doing much to put the psychological element of rehabilitation, centre stage and as expected, his presentation provoked much discussion and interest. And so, to the final SST speaker of the day, David Jones, Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire and his presentation ‘Rehab after knee surgery- taking the right course of action.’ David first showed his audience a graphic  video of an arthroscopy followed by a detailed and highly informative review of  early, intermediate and late-stage rehab. For David, controlling effusion is the initial priority in order to enable the quadriceps to work, with restoring extension, being the single most important action. Progression to unilateral exercises can then follow. David stressed the importance of understanding i)the levels of strength and endurance required to return to running and ii) the demands of the patient’s life /job and sport and the need to replicate them in late /pre-discharge stages of rehab. David’s highly informative talk was the perfect way to end the day for our Member speakers. In summing up the Society’s involvement in the two days of Therapy Expo, Society President, Professor Graham N. Smith said: ‘To say that I was proud of the nine Society sponsored speakers would be an understatement. The presentations given by each one was both professional and inspiring. Their knowledge, experience and expertise was clearly evident in each of their presentations and I know they were very much appreciated by both delegates and the organisers. Their enthusiasm for the profession and their pride in the Society also shone through. I felt honoured and privileged to be at the same event and on the same programme with them’. The Therapy Expo team was absolutely delighted with all of the speakers and Professor Graham Smith as Chair. The good news is that plans for a 2022 collaboration are already underway.

Each year at the Board Meeting following a Society of Sports Therapists’ Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors elect a Chair and Vice Chair. This year, three new Directors were voted onto the Board; Michael Cole, Lynsey Northeast and Kristian Weaver and they joined Kevin Campbell Karn (acting Vice Chair), Keith Waldon and Tom Cresswell. Professor Graham N. Smith, who had held the role of Chair of the Society so admirably for 32 years, took on the position of  President of the Society; the first person ever to hold this title. It was inevitable therefore that the Society would have a new Chair. Our congratulations to Dr Kevin Campbell-Karn, Associate Professor at Bucks New University who was elected as Chair of the Society and to Kristian Weaver, Lecturer in Sports Therapy at Edgehill University, as the Society’s new Vice Chair. We wish them every success in their new roles.  

It has been a rollercoaster of a year for Society Member Nikhil Dodhia, opening his own clinic in the middle of a pandemic, undergoing emergency heart surgery, and amidst everything, being surprised with a nomination for ‘Role Model of the Year’ award at the Luton and Bedfordshire Community Awards. We chatted to Nikhil about his career to date and his incredible year. Tell us about your Sports Therapy background I have always been active and involved in some form of physical activity or sport throughout my life. This means I have had my fair share of injuries along the way. I was always intrigued when seeing a sports therapist or physio, and along with my passion for helping people, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I graduated with a BSc First Class (Hons) degree from Coventry University in Sports Therapy before completing my Masters at the University of Bedfordshire in Strength & Conditioning. What did you enjoy most about your degree programme and who inspired you? I enjoyed every part of my degree, from meeting new people, making friends, learning new things and all the opportunities that were available. It wasn’t the easiest of starts due to dislocating my shoulder so badly on the first day of University, it required surgery, but I was able to learn a lot from it and realised how strong I am. The support I received from my lecturers was second to none. So, I would say they all inspired me in different ways to be the best I can be, not only as a therapist but as a person too. What attracted you to going into private practice and opening your own clinic? Where do you think your entrepreneurial spirit and skills come from? Initially I always wanted to work within sports teams. I enjoyed working in sports teams, but I felt a lot more value working in private practice. I love working with a variety of people, those who play sport and those who don’t. This was the reason I decided to go into private practice. I am by no means an entrepreneur but I like learning new things so I am learning as I go along, but I have been networking with a lot of people who run their own businesses and have multiple clinics which has helped a lot. Opening a clinic mid-pandemic must have been a big gamble? How has it worked out for you? Everything comes with its own risks. I had been renting from a recreation centre but due to the lockdowns and closures I was not able to work. So, I decided to look for my own premises and after a lot of viewings, I found the right one earlier this year. I spent a couple months doing it up and opened my new clinic in July 2021. It has been really good, and I have had a lot of positive feedback and support from everyone. It’s rewarding to see the client base building up which motivated me even more to make this a success. What surprised you the most when setting up your business? The most surprising thing had to be the overheads. I had no idea how much some things actually cost such as the signage, treatment couch, partitioning a wall, every little thing adds up. You’ve also got the rent, utilities and so on, it can look very intimidating at first. That’s why you have to market yourself well and get the word out there, so people and businesses know you are around. Also setting prices correctly took a really long time because you have to make sure you have enough money coming in to cover overheads but also make a profit.   Do you work with any local clubs at your clinic? Does your clinic have links with any local clubs? Yes, I work with Luton Town Hockey Club and am one of their kit sponsors. I have also partnered with a local Football Coaching company as well as a Dance School to help support the players and students, respectively. I really try to support those within the community as much as I can which also helps to build a profile and get more word of mouth going around. How do you feel your degree has prepared you for your career so far? Knowing what you know now, what else would have been helpful to prepare you for your current role? My degree prepared me to think outside the box, and to be able to communicate well with clients. It taught me the foundations of being a Sports Therapist from learning anatomy & physiology in detail to thoroughly assessing clients subjectively and objectively. If you can’t communicate the information across and keep your clients calm and reassured, it makes things much more difficult. Being able to work in the university clinic was very beneficial as it gave me a view of what clinical work was like. Also having the business module in my 3rd year was really good. At the time it seemed like I wouldn’t need any of it but I took a lot away from it and used a lot of what I learnt to set up my clinic. I think one thing that could have been helpful was learning how to manage a client’s expectations. It’s something I have learnt to do very well but this also comes down to being a good communicator and your choice of language when speaking to your clients. What would you say to Members contemplating opening a clinic of their own? Keep an open mind. Learn to adapt. Set yourself goals. Stay positive. Work hard. It takes time to build a client base, so keep grafting and don’t be disheartened if you are quiet at the beginning because you can achieve anything when you put your mind to it. It seems like 2021 has been a rollercoaster year for you including undergoing emergency heart surgery – could you tell us a bit about that if you’re comfortable talking about it In 2017 I developed arrhythmias such as SVT (supraventricular tachycardia), which is an electrical issue where my heart would beat at around 160bpm at rest. I also developed more life threatening rhythms known as AF (atrial fibrillation) and atrial flutters. AF is normally seen in those over the age of 65. I ended up in hospital every 3 or 4 weeks with an episode lasting hours before doctors could bring it down. In 2018 I underwent surgery but unfortunately it was unsuccessful, but to everyone’s surprise I didn’t have any episodes. In the last 3 years I have had 2 episodes and the last being in September 2021 whilst playing hockey. My heart rate was at 150bpm at rest but when doctors tried to bring it down it went up to 300bpm which was a life threating emergency. I was admitted to Harefield (specialist heart and lung hospital) and they operated again which doctors say was successful. This time it really affected me mentally and I took some time away to focus on my mental recovery as well as physical. It really has been up and down but I am doing a lot better and always staying positive. So finally, tell us about the ‘Role Model of the Year Award’. The Luton and Bedfordshire Community Awards is an annual event and ‘Role Model of the Year Award’ was just one of a number of awards on the night. It is aimed at people who strive to achieve their best in their studies, in sport or in their community. To be honest I have no idea how I came to be nominated. I was in the middle of my recovery when I got an email to say that I had been nominated and that the judges had decided to shortlist me. It was such a great evening with some amazing people. I couldn’t have been more shocked when they announced me as the winner, I truly am thankful for everyone’s support. Editor’s Note Nikhil, many congratulations not only on your brilliant award but in coming through such an incredible year with such remarkable resilience and humility. Good luck with your clinic and importantly, very best wishes for a healthy year ahead.