CPFT doctor wins national award for psychiatry communication
Pictured at one of the Conversations group sessions this year before the Covid-19 pandemic:
(left to right) Dr Hisham Ziauddeen, Ash Curry and Sarah Rae.
Psychiatrist Dr Hisham Ziauddeen has been honoured by The Royal College of Psychiatrists for his communication skills at their prestigious national awards, held online for this first time this year.
Hisham works in CPFT’s CAMEO early intervention mental health service and at the University of Cambridge Department of Psychiatry as a clinical senior research associate.
Presenting the award for Psychiatric Communicator of the Year, President of The Royal College of Psychiatrists Dr Adrian James commended Hisham, who ‘has shown a wide range of communication skills within psychiatry and has used Virtual Reality work and comedy to demonstrate his creativity’.
After receiving his award, Hisham said:
“For many reasons, people with mental illness and disability have been amongst the most marginalised and underserved groups in societies across the world. Working for people with mental illness and disability means working for a better world and requires us to speak out.”
CPFT Chief Executive Tracy Dowling said: “I am delighted that Hisham has been recognised for his excellent work and impressive communication skills in psychiatry. He encourages people to share their mental health experiences and gives them a voice to help improve care and better understand the conditions we research and treat. This award is well deserved, and highlights how our clinicians innovate and engage to move psychiatry forward, and ensure our mental health services learn from people’s insights.”
Hisham set up the Trust’s innovative Conversations with Experts by Experience programme to teach researchers and health professionals, empowering people with lived experience to share their mental health insights and shape research.
The programme has been running for over five years, with over 40 sessions exploring a range of mental health conditions with expert teachers. The sessions offer a safe, confidential space to reflect and discuss mental health challenges, discovering new areas and questions for investigation and improvement. If you would like to be involved with the programme in future, please contact Hisham on: hz238@cam.ac.uk.
Expert by Experience co-facilitator and researcher Sarah Rae said: “It has been hugely rewarding to work with Hisham over the last five years on this unique programme. It was an enjoyable opportunity to collaborate with a psychiatrist who is naturally warm and unassuming, with a special ability to make all the contributors feel at ease.”
Expert teacher Ash Curry said: “It’s been a great pleasure working with Hisham, and the project has given those with lived experiences an opportunity to share them with others, how it has impacted their lives, what helps, and a chance to work with those who are interested in learning about it all.”
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional medical body responsible for supporting psychiatrists throughout their careers from training through to retirement, and in setting and raising standards of psychiatry in the United Kingdom.
The College works to secure the best outcomes for people with mental illness, learning difficulties and developmental disorders by promoting excellent mental health services, training outstanding psychiatrists, promoting quality and research, setting standards and being the voice of psychiatry.
