A Foundation Year 2 doctor at East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust has been announced as a Rising Star Winner in Healthcare at the recent Rising Star Awards.
Chanelle Smith was shortlisted out of 1300 applicants and adds this award to a growing list of accolades which includes being featured in the Guardian and the BBC following her experiences volunteering as a medical student during the pandemic. This led to her also being featured within a children’s book honouring Captain Sir Tom Moore: One Hundred Reasons to Hope. 
Chanelle was recognised for a number of different initiatives within healthcare which have helped both colleagues, and members of the wider community.
This includes striving to improve healthcare inequalities for BAME mothers and newborns through her role as an ambassador for BAME Maternity, as well helping students with their medical school applications through her role as a Chief mentor of Medic Mentor.
When discussing her recent award Chanelle said “I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to win this award as I believe that I may give young girls of colour someone to aspire to due to all I have been able to achieve despite any adversity I have faced.
"Even to be shortlisted in the top 100 out of 1,300 applicants felt like a win so to be one of the top 5 women in healthcare feels so surreal. It is truly a privilege to stand alongside such esteemed and inspiring women.
“The reception from my collegues has 
been overwhelmingly positive and I am really enjoying my time at East Lancashire NHS Trust. The staff have truly welcomed me into the departments and made my transition from a medical student to a doctor much more seamless.”
Now in their eighth year, the Rising Star Awards are the first to focus on the achievements of women below Senior Management or Director level – representing the female talent pipeline and the next generation of future leaders.
The awards also recognise the efforts of senior leaders who are championing gender equality, in addition to representatives from companies who are truly pushing for gender parity within their organisations.