Black Healthcare Awards

CAHN

Black Healthcare Awards

Celebrating excellence in healthcare.

On Friday 4th July, the Royal Lancaster London came alive as more than 450 guests gathered in black tie to celebrate the Black Healthcare Awards 2026 an unforgettable evening honouring the doctors, nurses, community leaders and changemakers transforming healthcare for Black communities across the UK.

From the first moment to the last, the energy in the room was unmatched. A live band, dancing and one emotional highlight after another made for a night of both tears and laughter, and above all, a room full of people finally being seen and celebrated for the work they do every single day.

Held as the final Black Healthcare Awards before the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) enters its tenth year, the ceremony carried particular significance. It marked both a celebration of achievement and a tribute to a legacy of service, resilience and leadership that continues to shape health and care for future generations.

Celebrating the 2026 Winners

CAHN is proud to congratulate all of this year’s winners, whose work is advancing patient care, health equity and the next generation of leadership:

Academic Excellence in Health Education – Professor Calvin Moorley
Allied Health Professional of the Year – Mr Favour Okunade
Black Student of the Year – Mrs Salome Enoshi Uwah
Emerging Health Leader of the Year – Mrs Nicole Lawal
Executive Leader, Livingbridge Awards – Ms Karen Bonner MBE
Health Innovation & Systems – Dr Salwa Elmamoun
Health Research & Life Sciences – Dr Veline L’Esperance
Health Support Professional of the Year – Miss Christina Brown
HIV & Sexual Health Leadership Award – Mr Marc Thompson
Laboratory & Diagnostics Excellence – Dr Oliver Chukwuma Orji
Lifetime Achievement in Black Health – Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu and Professor Martin Griffiths
Midwife of the Year, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent Award – Ms Rebecca Gilbert and Mrs Gemma Poole
Nursing Excellence – Mrs Evonne Hunt and Mrs Casrine Hudson-Willians
Pharmaceutical Excellence & Access – Mrs Gracia Hyatt and Dr John Bolodeoku
Pharmacist of the Year – Ms Tase Oputu and Dr Yeyenta Osasu
Primary Care Professional of the Year – Dr Aziza Sesay
Professor Kevin Fenton Award for Public Health & Equity – Ms Marlene Cato D’Aguilar
Specialist Clinical Leader – Dr Paul Bolaji and Dr Olubukola Ayodele
Outstanding Contribution, IPS Employment Support – Mr Kenneth Kwogyenga and Miss Chantelle Dillon
Special Recognition Award – Dr Aggrey Burke (awarded posthumously)

Our Patrons

Senior figures from healthcare, academia and public life supporting the awards.

Lord Victor Adebowale
Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE DL
Yvonne Coghill
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE
Cedi Frederick
Professor Kevin Fenton CBE
Dame Marie Gabriel
Professor Margaret Ikpoh
Professor Dame Donna Kinnair
Wol Kolade CBE
Professor Patricia Miller OBE
Professor Bola Owolabi CBE
Dr Nnenna Osuji
Professor Laura Serrant OBE
Dr Lade Smith CBE

Judges

Experienced healthcare, academic and public health leaders responsible for reviewing nominations and selecting winners.

Sue Bedward
Mr Ibrahim I Bolaji
Professor Ivan Browne OBE
Cindy Butts
Michelle Cox MBE
Dr Julie Hammond
Marsha Jones
Bimpe Kuti-Matekenya
Tracey MacCormack
Geeta Nayar
Dr Suman Prinjah
Marcus Riddell
Jaspal Roopra
Molly Sobola
Professor Patrick Vernon OBE
Bernadette Thompson OBE

Hosted by Caribbean & African Health Network
Website: www.blackhealthcareawards.cahn.org.uk
Contact: blackhealthcareawards@cahn.org.uk

Black Healthcare Awards 2025

Celebrating the Black Healthcare Awards

The Black Healthcare Awards 2025 brought together over 500 healthcare professionals, leaders and advocates for a powerful night of celebration at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London

With 30 winners and 157 shortlisted candidates and hundreds of nominations received from across the UK, the event shone a spotlight on the remarkable contributions of Black professionals driving change, breaking barriers and delivering outstanding care every day.

The winners at the Black Healthcare Awards are as follows:

Allied Health Professional of the Year – Lorna Jones
Midwife of the Year (Professor Dunkley-Bent Award) – Dr Ruth Oshikanlu MBE
Advanced Nurse & Specialist Nurse – Irene B. Boham
Emergency Practitioner of the Year – Mr Mohamed S I Kamara
Women’s Health Practitioner – Dr Natalie Nunes
Clinical Excellence Award for Consultants – Ms Evelyn Mensah
Oncologist of the Year – Dr Ademola Adeyeye
Stroke Consultant of the Year – Dr Salwa Elmamoun
Social Care Professional of the Year – Carl Case
Junior Doctor in Training – Dr Jessica O’Logbon
Health Support Worker of the Year – Oluchi Emma Okoroafor
Health Researcher of the Year – Dr Ishtar Govia
Black Student of the Year – Crystal Chibuogu Ihenachor
Dentist of the Year – Dr Maggie Andi
Nurse of the Year – Rosalyn Agyekum and Gideon Agbemafle
Sexual Health Practitioner – Dr Vanessa Apea
Digital Health Innovator – Dr Maryann Ferreux
Primary Care Practice Professional – Dr Oge Ilozue and Dr Itunuoluwa Johnson
The Lifetime Advancement Award – Mr (Dr) Onyekwelu C Nzewi, Councillor Carol Webley-Brown, and Yvonne Coghill CBE
Executive Leader – Livingbridge Award – Dr Buki Adeyemo and Basirat Sadiq
Sickle Cell Care Nurse – Marilyn Burton
Health and Care Support Advocate of the Year – Tinuke Awe and Clotilde Abe
Cardiologist of the Year – Dr Thomas Mwambingu
Pharmacist of the Year – Dr Raliat Onatade
Fenton Award – Dr Cordelle Ofori

The evening combined heartfelt tributes, vibrant performances and unforgettable moments that captured the spirit, resilience and excellence of our community.

Thank you to our guests, nominees and winners for making the night truly special. And to our sponsors Livingbridge, Theramex and Vertex thank you for helping to make this celebration possible.

Guests were joined by representatives from organisations including House of Emirates, Consiliaris, Impact on Urban Health, Prostate Cancer UK, Royal College of Nursing, Social Finance, Stroke Association and NHS Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals – reflecting the scale and significance of this moment for the sector.