This is the list of Core Paediatric Speciality Trainees (ST1-4) and other Resident Doctors at Foundation, GP, or Trust SHO level who were nominated for showing outstanding promise, ability and teamwork.
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Dr Mohammed Abu Fayyad
Works at University Hospitals Plymouth
Mohammed is extremely knowledgeable and is a highly valued member of the team. He is a team player and treats all staff, babies and families with the upmost respect. He isn’t afraid to change a nappy or reposition an infant once he has finished an examination and he always asks how staff are and thanks everyone for their work
Mohammed has a fantastic manner, he approaches colleagues, patients and their families with respect and kindness. He is always looking to learn, from medical and nursing colleagues and became part of the team very quickly due to his willingness to learn and participate in patient care. He learnt everyone’s name in super quick time ( no mean feat!) a testament to how much he values and respects the team he is working in. He has a lovely manner with parents, who often comment on how reassured they feel by his explanations and support.
Dr Alicia Boam
Works at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Lissie is such a positive person to have around. She is incredibly hard working. Her communication skills with children and exemplary and I am inspired by the way she is able to make relationships with families. She has an incredibly strong knowledge base and thinks long and hard with every patient. Lissie has taken on our weekly teaching programme and spent many hours working and improving this.Alicia consistently demonstrates excellence in her work within paediatrics, going above and beyond for every child, parent, and family she cares for. No matter how busy or stressful a shift becomes, she powers through with unwavering dedication and a genuine smile, creating a reassuring and positive atmosphere for everyone around her. Her compassion and care shine through in every interaction, showing true empathy and understanding towards patients and their families. Alicia is an excellent role model, embodying the values of the RCPCH through her professionalism, kindness, and commitment to high-quality care. She demonstrates exemplary teamwork and is always approachable, supportive, and easy to communicate with, making her a valued and respected member of the team. Her presence on shift uplifts those around her and inspires others to deliver the same standard of excellence she consistently upholds.
Lissie is organised, hardworking and compassionate. Family members highly value her contribution to their care. She is a great team player and is always a pleasure to work with.
Dr Sophie Carr
Works at Royal Cornwall Hospitals
Sophie is such an asset to paediatrics at RCHT. For a start, she is a kind and eminently approachable doctor, supportive to all other members of the team and will always endeavour to help out- even when the evening jobs list is as long as her arm. Her care towards our patients and their families is exemplary; she practices with respect and such a calm, reassuring manner. Sophie is also now establishing a QI project on blood request order sets that will undoubtedly save us all a lot of time and frustration! I feel assured whenever I see she is on shift that the patients are in capable hands and we’re in for a good day. Despite being so early in her training, Sophie has already proved herself a highly knowledgeable and capable doctor already well on the way to becoming a stellar paediatrician. Team paeds is very lucky to have her.
Dr Sam Chun
Works at University Hospitals Plymouth
Sam is the kind of colleague everyone feels lucky to have on shift. He is endlessly supportive, always willing to step in, share his knowledge, or simply listen when someone needs it. There’s a generosity about the way Sam teaches and encourages others that lifts the whole team. Sam speaks to children at their level, takes the time to explain things clearly, and never loses sight of the fact that behind every case is a worried parent or caregiver doing their best. The comfort and reassurance Sam brings to families is something you can’t measure, but you can feel it in every interaction.
Sam’s clinical knowledge is outstanding—thorough, up-to-date, and applied with real insight. His skills are evident in the way they assess, plan, and deliver care, even in the most complex situations. You know you are in safe hands when he is on shift and you can always be reassured that he will listen to any nursing concerns and be there in an instance. Sam shows kindness, respect, integrity, and a real commitment to family-centred care. He acts with genuine compassion, treating everyone with dignity, and never hesitates to advocate for what a child and their family needs.
Sam is a doctor whose contribution is invaluable, and who’s approach truly represents the very best of paediatrics. It is a pleasure to work with him!
Sam has demonstrated an exceptional level of dedication, clinical skill, and professionalism. His commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care is evident in every shift, and his calm, thoughtful approach ensures the best outcomes for children and young people under his care.
In his interactions with patients and families, Sam excels. He communicates with warmth, clarity, and compassion, taking time to listen and respond thoughtfully to concerns. Families frequently comment on the reassurance and confidence that Sam provides, even in challenging or emotionally charged situations. His patient-centred approach ensures that children and young people feel heard, understood, and cared for as individuals.
Sam is a pleasure to work alongside and seeing him on shift makes you feel you are in for a good day!
I’ve worked with Sam over many years; he is a capable pair of hands and has shown great progression in his differentials and management plans. I’m lucky when Sam is on shift
It’s always a joy to know you’ll be working a shift with Sam. He’s the most supportive colleague anyone could ask for. He never looks down on you for not knowing something, never makes you feel bad for asking for help. I’ve seen him go the extra mile for the team countless times, and if you ask anyone who’s worked with him, they’ll say the same thing. He makes work lighter, and he makes you feel like you truly belong in the team.
He’s incredibly knowledgeable about how the department runs, and that’s because he’s so hardworking. Every task he does, he does properly and to the highest standard. I genuinely hope to be as good a trainee as him one day.
Sam builds rapport with colleagues and patients so easily. He puts children and their parents at ease, and you can tell he genuinely cares. When I moved into a new job as a new trainee, things were difficult but Sam just *got it*. He didn’t need to say he’d help; I just knew he would, and he always does. Whether it’s understanding how the department works or even just figuring out bits of British culture, he’s always kind, patient, and encouraging.
Sam is an exceptional SHO. This is in part due to his significant paediatric experience gained prior to training but also due to an innate aptitude for the care of young people. He treats all children and their families with a kind and non-judgemental attitude and they all love him – responding to his empathy, as well as his evident competence.
He has excellent working relationships with all members of the wider paediatric team and goes above and beyond on every single shift. His seniors and the nursing staff can rely on him to manage the workload of the department efficiently, his juniors seek him out as a leader and font of knowledge – I don’t know anyone who knows the inner workings of the department better than Sam!
He is involved in running the Paediatric Improvement Meeting at Derriford, acting as an intermediary between the junior team and consultants to improve the junior working experience and department as a whole, and has been involved in a number of audits and QI projects prior to this. His excellent people skills means he is able to suggest and action change effectively.
Dr Emma Cobby
Works at North Devon District Hospital
Emma is a hardworking, supportive member of the team. She has a great attitude towards learning new skills and getting out of her comfort zone. She is also friendly, approachable and hells to create a happy work atmosphere. As well as all this she’s incredibly smart and competent.
Dr Matt Cotton
Works at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Matt is the one of, if not the most Uplifting and encouraging Doctors I have had the pleasure of working alongside side. Not only does Matt ensure he provides the best care and support to patients and families but also nursing staff and HCA staff. Matt is approachable and uplifting to his colleagues and empowers nursing staff, allowing them to believe in themselves. When I see that Matt is working I know that no matter what the day ahead brings, we’ll be okay!
We are so lucky to have the privilege of having Matt working alongside us on Bramble. Matt continuously goes above and beyond within his role, nothing is ever too much bother. Matt is always on hand to lead education when required, and also demonstrates outstanding care. He is compassionate, understanding, and an absolute ray of sunshine! Matt’s interactions with patients, and their families is always a pleasure to witness. Matt dedicates time, offers supports, and encouragement to all those he is supporting, or working with.
I couldn’t think of anyone better who deserves this award more than the one and only Matt Cotton!!
Matt is just a truly wonderful member of the team. He is not only incredibly knowledgeable and skilled for his level of training but also does everything with such a big smile. Every time I am on shift with him he will go out of his way to help team members. On one busy shift he took a family up to the ward from PAU himself when every other team member was too busy. He has also put huge amounts of effort in to our daily teaching schedule and I can already see lots of improvement in the last few months.
Matt consistently demonstrates excellence in his work within paediatrics, approaching every situation with professionalism, empathy, and dedication to the highest standards of care. He shows an unwavering commitment to supporting his team, always willing to lend a hand, share knowledge, and provide encouragement — even during the most challenging times. His interactions with patients and their families are marked by compassion, respect, and genuine care, ensuring that each child and family feels valued, understood, and supported. Matt truly embodies the values of the RCPCH — integrity, respect, excellence, collaboration, and innovation — in all aspects of his practice, making him a role model for his colleagues and an asset to the profession.
Matt is an outstanding trainee. He puts in 100% to everything he does. He is very approachable and when you work with him you know everything will get done. He works extremely hard and nothing is too much for him to do. Not only does everyone that works with him get on well with him he also puts patients and their families at ease. He has fantastic communication skills. He ensures to take time to discuss with families their concerns and addresses these in a very professional and empathetic way. Matt is a very good teacher, he delivers great teaching to colleagues and to students and does it with humour whilst also imparting crucial knowledge. Matt has been organising the teaching rota in his own time. Matt is always there to support colleagues, he makes you feel listened to, and is very enjoyable to work with.
Matt has enthusiastically and efficiently organised the departmental junior doctor teaching. He shows good leadership skills in looking out for colleagues who are coping less well with a stressful day. He shows a genuine interest in quality improvement/ making day-to-day working better appropriately questioning how we do things.
Matt is an outstanding young paediatrician. His love for the job shines through, with great enthusiasm and passion. He has an fabulous ability to communicate thoughtfully and skillfully with families and children, providing excellent reassurance and explanations of care. His clinical knowledge is superb, and brilliantly incorporated into realistic bedside management. He takes responsibility for management, demonstrating exceptional reliability. He’s great in the team, and immediately steps up to lead when the opportunity arises. Matt is a superb colleague, and already a very bright star in paediatric medicine.
Dr Liam Craddock
Works at Royal Cornwall Hospitals
Liam is well respected by the clinical team around him as he is considerate, kind, friendly and approachable. I often hear feedback from multiple sources about how he considers how is management plans affect the nursing staff and he is willing and able to support them in performing tasks if needed. Liam also has an immediate calming effect on many of the parents and young people he sees. His natural friendly nature puts them at ease which means he is able to be efficient and gain the trust of the patients and parents. Liam takes initiative when working on the wards by managing patient flow.As a junior colleague to me, I know that if I have to attend to another area and Liam is around – that patient care will not be compromised at all. Liam takes the opportunity to share his knowledge with other colleagues and medical students. He can be left in charge of the assessment unit when the registrar is away and his clinical knowledge and skills mean that the nurses are happy to initiate his plans whilst waiting for a senior review. Personally, Liam makes my job easier and more enjoyable to taking on clinical skills tasks such as cannulation, LPs and intubation without second guessing himself.
Dr Mohammed Elrayes
Works at Royal Cornwall Hospitals
Enthusiastic trainee, works well in the team, puts children and families at ease. Reliable and hard working
Dr Ahmed Elsayed
Works at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Ahmed is an exceptional doctor whose calm, compassionate, and dedicated approach makes an enormous difference to both patients and colleagues. Knowing Ahmed is on shift instantly brings reassurance to the whole team. No matter how busy things get or how many times he is called, he remains composed, approachable, and completely focused on delivering the best care for every child and family.
His communication skills are outstanding, he listens attentively to families, explains things clearly, and treats every patient with kindness and respect. His empathy and professionalism shine through in every interaction, and parents frequently comment on how reassured they feel under his care.
Ahmed is also an incredible team player. He values and supports the nursing team, always checking in, sharing knowledge, and ensuring everyone feels heard and appreciated. His willingness to teach and guide junior colleagues reflects his natural leadership and dedication to developing others.
Beyond his clinical excellence, Ahmed constantly seeks opportunities to learn and improve. He approaches each shift with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a genuine passion for paediatrics. His reliability and thoughtful approach make him a true asset to the department, and his positive attitude uplifts everyone around him.
Ahmed demonstrates excellence in every aspect of his role—clinically astute, endlessly supportive, and deeply compassionate. He embodies the very best of paediatric care and is truly deserving of this recognition.
Ahmed is one of the most kind and compassionate drs I have met. Everyday he comes into work with the biggest smile on his face, he always says hello to the nursing staff and takes time to ask them how they are. He is very approachable when I need to ask questions or seek help and he really listens to the nurses concerns or queries. He has a lovely attentive manner with the patients and their families which I am sure makes the families feel very reassured and safe. He works well within the team both on the ward and also when in PAU, managing tasks effectively and communicating well with the nursing team. I am always reassured when Ahmed is around.
Very efficient, far and beyond what is expected to his grade. Thorough knowledge, exceptional handover skills. Calm and smiling in stressful situations. I feel assured when he is on shift. Carries responsibility does not try to put blame on others. Polite and respects his colleagues
Dr George Guiton
Works at Royal Cornwall Hospitals
George has been a fantastic addition to our paediatric team. His calm, measured approach is reassuring to wider team members and instills confidence in those less experienced. George really enjoys working in part of a team and has settled in nicely. The wider team always enjoy working with George. He is supportive and always take time for parents and carers which i know they highly value. George is gaining experience and confidence with this in paediatrics and he has worked really hard to improve his neonatal skills and it has been really nice to see his confidence grow. Well done George, keep up the hard work!
Dr Jena Hopkins
Works at Torbay & South Devon
Jena is an amazing registrar, currently on rotation in Torbay.
She is extremely competent for her year of training. She conducts thorough assessment and makes safe, pragmatic, well reasoned management plans for acutely unwell children.
She is an extremely well liked member of the team and is very supportive to both her nursing and medical colleagues.
She is a great educator and always takes every opportunity to teach the team.
Jena is a friendly, approachable professional and has a wealth of knowledge in paediatrics. She is a registrar that is always a pleasure to work alongside. She demonstrates the highest standards of care and her professionalism is outstanding. She is so kind, compassionate and is a very empathetic doctor.
She always makes time to gain insight from the nursing team. She has excellent listening skills and a lovely nature that makes you feel comfortable and focused in stressful and demanding situations. She always ensure the children young people and families in her care are continually updated and reassured. She is always eager and keen to pass on her knowledge and skills. It is always a pleasure to work with Jena.
She always cares for the team as a whole and has exemplary communication skills and practical skills and always ensure the teams are all focused on a shared outcome. She is an asset to the team and I hope she gets the recognition she deserves
Dr Bryony Hurst
Works at Torbay & South Devon
Bryony is a brilliant kind and caring SHO, who really cares about her patients and colleagues. She always does her best to make the right decisions, and makes the effort to think deeply and look up topics when needed.
Dr Mollie Jones
Works at North Devon District Hospital
A brilliant tier 1 Dr. Efficient and has a lot of positive energy. A sad loss to paediatrics.
Dr Shanvanth Jonnalagadda
Works at Torbay & South Devon
Shan is a lovely person to work with. He was a brilliant SHO in Plymouth NICU, and is doing a great job of stepping up to tier 2 in Torbay. He’s kind, diligent, hard working and really cares.
Within just a few weeks, Shan has made an incredible impression on the nursing staff. Whenever we hear he is on shift, there are frequent comments of “Shan is brilliant”, “what a lovely doctor he is”, “he’s so knowledgeable” – to name just a few examples.
Shan’s approach to patients/parents and colleagues alike is unshakeably calm, effortlessly kind and very patient; his demeanour puts everyone at ease.
Shan’s gentle leadership empowers others to share their thoughts and ideas on patient care, enabling them to feel valued, heard, and confident in their own knowledge. He works in partnership with the nursing team and takes a great interest in his patients.
I have worked alongside Shan on some emotionally challenging cases, sometimes where he has received unkind or fraught words from parents. Shan took this in his stride and remained professional and compassionate despite the stress of the situation, and was very gracious when the parent later apologised.
He therefore has the ability to remain calm under pressure, (despite claiming he tends to be a magnet for admissions or difficult cases!), and in doing so keeps the ward team calm and in good spirits.
Shan takes time to get to know his team and it has been a pleasure to talk with him over a cup of tea when acuity allows. He has a great sense of humour and is very friendly and approachable.
Endlessly reassuring by nature, he also has the ability to put others at ease with his fantastic knowledge levels – we were all surprised to find out he was not further in his training than ST3!
Particularly noticeable is his passion for evidence-based care, his clinical insight and his curiosity to learn from others. He maintains an open-minded approach to his own practice and is always willing to consider the opinions of other medics, nurses, and importantly the families, keeping the child at the forefront of everything he does.
Dr Emily Keavy
Works at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Emily is one of our new ST1 trainees. I was so impressed working with her on weekend nights. She was hard working, safely managed the neonatal unit, escalated when appropriate and was an excellent communicator throughout. The nursing team also fed back to me how excellent she had been and commented on how she had been supporting a less confident colleague the week before. I am sure she will flourish in the world of paediatrics.
Dr Bridget Kemball
Works at Royal Cornwall Hospitals
Bridget is amazing. We heard fantastic things about her before she started and my goodness she has exceeded her reputation. She is knowledgeable, experienced and most importantly sensible. She embodies the phrase ‘a safe pair of hands’. She is also fantastic to work with, a great team player with great communication skills. Everyone is delighted when they are working and she is on. She already is an incredible paediatrician. Amazing work Bridget! well done
Bridget is an incredible ST4. She is calm under pressure, approachable, has excellent clinical skills and knowledge, and is just all round a great Paediatric trainee. She is reliable and hard working whilst remaining kind and approachable. She is performing far above her training grade in my opinion!
Dr Emma Long
Works at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Emma is an outstanding junior doctor who gives her very best every day. Working in paediatrics, she shows real care and dedication to her patients and their families. She takes the time to listen, explain, and make sure everyone feels supported and understood. Emma is known for being approachable and kind, making it easy for both patients and colleagues to come to her for help or advice. She works closely with the nursing staff, always valuing their opinions and making decisions as part of the team. Her teamwork helps create a positive and supportive environment on the ward, where everyone feels respected and included. Emma also regularly checks in to see how everyone is doing, offering encouragement and help whenever needed. Her calm and caring attitude helps the whole team stay focused, even in busy or stressful situations. She always goes above and beyond to give the best possible care, showing a real passion for paediatrics and a strong desire to keep learning and improving. Emma leads by example, showing how kindness, teamwork, and professionalism can make a big difference every day. For her hard work, compassion, and commitment to her patients and team, Emma truly deserves to be recognised as Junior Doctor of the Year.
Dr Olivia Martin
Works at University Hospitals Plymouth
Although Olivia only worked on TCW/NICU for a short period of time she embedded herself in the team and was very proactive. She always puts the patient first and was keen on QI. She is keen to share her learning and produces very good and helpful posters. I hope she considers a career in paediatrics (in the south west).
Dr Caitlín Milliken
Works at Royal Cornwall Hospitals
It’s been a pleasure to watch Cash grow into her registrar role during her time at RCHT. She is an eminently likeable and honest colleague, unafraid of a challenge and ever willing to push for the right care. As a trainee, I have always found her supportive of my learning, willing to talk through her reasoning on patient management and discuss learning opportunities. I have seen similar with others among both medical and nursing teams. You cannot fault her integrity. She proactively makes suggestions for change, provides support and gives constructive feedback to all. Thank you Cash!
Dr Rebecca Myers
Works at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Beccy has not long started back in Exeter as an ST1. She is a hard working, sensible and fun pair of hands who I would chose to work with any day. Keep it up!
I would like to nominate Becky for the Paediatric Junior Hero award for the incredible impact she’s already had since joining the Bramble team.
From day one, Becky settled in as if she had always been part of the ward. She’s approachable, kind, and always ready to help, no matter how busy things get. Nothing ever feels like too much trouble — whether it’s helping with a task, answering a quick question, or just checking in to make sure you’re okay. She’s the kind of colleague who lifts the team just by being there.
Becky consistently demonstrates excellence in her clinical work. She’s thoughtful, thorough, and calm under pressure, and always puts the needs of her patients first. She has a natural way with children, bringing calm to chaotic situations, and offering real comfort to parents during difficult moments. Her communication is clear, kind, and always rooted in empathy.
What stands out most is how much she values the whole team. She treats everyone — from nurses and HCAs to consultants — with the utmost respect and works collaboratively to ensure the best care for our patients. She listens, learns, and leads by example, and it’s clear she genuinely cares about those around her.
Becky has become a trusted, valued part of our team in such a short time, and it’s a joy to work alongside her. She truly deserves to be recognised as a Paediatric Junior Hero.
Dr Arvils Nesko
Works at University Hospitals Plymouth
Arvils consistently demonstrates outstanding dedication and excellence in all aspects of his work in paediatrics. His commitment to providing the highest standard of care is evident in every patient interaction and every task he undertakes. He approaches teamwork with humility and positivity, always willing to lend a hand, share knowledge, and offer encouragement to colleagues of all levels. Arvils’ interactions with children and their families are exceptional. He has a wonderful ability to connect with young patients, helping them feel safe, understood, and reassured, even in the most challenging circumstances. Families frequently comment on his kindness, patience, and clear communication, which help to build trust and ease anxiety during difficult times. Arvils embodies the values of the RCPCH — compassion, integrity, respect, and dedication to the wellbeing of children and young people. His professionalism, empathy, and enthusiasm make him an outstanding role model for others.
Dr Surajudeen Ogunkanbi
Works at North Devon District Hospital
Kunle is an exceptional paediatric trainee whose kindness and professionalism brighten every shift. He provides excellent, compassionate care to children and families, communicating with warmth and clarity even in challenging moments. Always calm, approachable, and supportive, Kunle works beautifully with the whole team — nurses, doctors, and AHPs alike — creating a positive, collaborative atmosphere on the ward. Kunle is very hardworking and his genuine love for paediatrics make him an absolute asset to our unit and a joy to work alongside.
Dr James Reynolds
Works at Torbay & South Devon
I would like to nominate James for this award as his work on the SSPAU has been outstanding. He consistently goes above and beyond for his patients; he is kind, patient, hardworking and enthusiastic. He shows great compassion when working with both the patients and their families. James is a fantastic team player who is always willing to help his peers and supports the nursing staff without hesitation. James is a great asset to the paediatric team and has shown how kindness, empathy, and great communication skills can really make a difference.
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We use the nomination text and categories as provided by those who submit the nomination.
If there are any issues with the nomination pages (errors, people placed in the wrong category or any other concerns) please email s.janoff@nhs.net
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We will use the following criteria for creating the shortlist and choosing the final winner:
Junior Hero
1. Demonstrates excellence in the fulfilment of their work in paediatrics
2. Demonstrates exemplary team working and support to peers
3. Demonstrates excellence in their interaction with patients and their families
4. Embodies the values of RCPCH
PAFTAs 