CeNREE Alumni

Claire Rae

NIHR Predoctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship (PCAF) / NIHR West Midlands HCP Internship / NIHR Developing Research Leaders Programme

I am a speech and language therapist (SLT), and in my clinical role I lead the SLT service for Hyperacute Rehabilitation at UHNM. I specialise in rehabilitation of communication and eating, drinking and swallowing in the very early stages following moderate and severe brain injuries.

CeNREE supported me in successfully applying for and completing an NIHR Predoctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship, which bought out my time and paid my training costs to complete a Masters in Clinical Research and develop my research skills to be a stronger candidate for doctoral funding in the future.

Following this, I completed the NIHR West Midlands Health & Care Professionals Internship Programme on the Clinical/Academic Leadership Pathway, which has enabled me to update the systematic review completed as a part of my Masters and prepare it as a manuscript for publication, as well as finding and working with supervisors to develop plans for a future doctoral application.

Through the Internship I also worked with CeNREE to submit a successful application for a place on the NIHR Developing Research Leaders (DRL) programme. As a DRL, I have three years of funded time to directly support AHP teams at UHNM in developing research capacity, capability and culture.

Rodney Lowe

AMU County Ward Manager

I am Rodney Lowe the Ward Manager for AMU County. I have been qualified as an RN for 14 years and the manager of AMU for the last 6 years. I applied for the Foundation of Nursing Studies – Inspire Improvement Fellowship, after I saw it advertised via an e-mail from the Trust. I wanted to use the opportunity to develop, learn and become a better leader for my team.

The course was split across two terms with 7 sessions in each delivered virtually, there are also two face to face days that will be completed in July. Each week we looked at a different aspect of leadership, the individual, the people that make up the team, how others view our work environment etc. We were tasked with looking at “how we do things around here” and changing that mindset to ensure best practice. We were also asked to engage with our teams to ask them “what it’s like to work here?” and gauge genuine insight into how staff feel about their work environment. Much of the learning was done in a creative way with art and expressionism used to demonstrate our ideas. Meeting the other Fellows has been a really rewarding experience and everyone has brought different experiences and challenges to discuss. Everyone has been very supportive of each other.

I would recommend that others apply for the Fellowship if they are given the opportunity.

Jokotade Adeshina

Lead Professional Nurse Advocate

My Chief Nurse Fellowship Journey

My name is Joko Adeshina, and I am a Registered Nurse with a background in Acute Medicine, I began my nursing career in UHNM in 2017 as a Staff Nurse in AMU. Since then, I have had the privilege of progressing through several clinical and leadership roles, including Junior Sister in SSU, Quality Nurse in FEAU, and, most recently, Lead Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) within CeNREE. In 2023, I was fortunate to be selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the Chief Nurse Fellowship Programme, delivered by CeNREE. Participating in this fellowship has been one of the most transformative experiences of my professional career. The programme provided invaluable opportunities to learn, grow, and develop my leadership capabilities through a diverse range of sessions covering research, quality and governance, continuous improvement, patient voice, leadership, corporate functions, system and professional leadership, digital transformation, personal and professional development, report writing and shadowing opportunities.

The fellowship significantly enhanced my confidence, broadened my understanding of NHS leadership, and equipped me with practical skills to influence change both within my organisation and beyond. It also enabled me to build meaningful networks with colleagues and leaders across the NHS, providing support, mentorship, and inspiration that continue to shape my professional development today. As part of the programme, I completed a fellowship project focused on promoting the career progression of Global Majority nurses. The project received significant recognition and was presented at both the UHNM Annual Showcase and the HSJ Conference, where it was awarded First Place for Poster Presentation at both events. This achievement demonstrated the value of addressing inequalities in career progression and highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for diverse nursing voices to be heard.

Building on the confidence, leadership skills, and encouragement gained through the fellowship, I successfully applied for the Michelle Cox RCN Foundation Anti-Racism Award, securing a £2,500 grant to explore experiences of equality within nursing. I cannot speak highly enough of the support I received throughout this process from Rachel Houghton and the CeNREE team, who supported me from the earliest stages of the application through to the completion of the project. Their guidance, expertise, encouragement, and belief in me were instrumental in developing the project and maximising its impact. The findings and recommendations from the Michelle Cox project directly informed the successful delivery of a Global Majority Nursing Conference, which brought together healthcare professionals, leaders, allies, and speakers from across and beyond the organisation to share learning, raise awareness, and promote equitable opportunities for all. The influence of this work continues to grow, with findings shared with the RCN, accepted for presentation at the National Ward and Team Leaders Conference, and accepted as a poster presentation at the WHO Europe Global Expo 2027.

Today, I serve as the Lead Professional Nurse Advocate within the CeNREE team, Co-Chair of the Ethnic Diversity Network at UHNM, and the NHS Midlands Black and Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group Clinical Fellow to the Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Midwifery Officer for NHS England. I am passionate about supporting staff wellbeing, career development, inclusion, retention, and professional growth. My work to advance inclusion at UHNM was recognised at the UHNM Night of Stars Awards, where I received the Inclusion Award in recognition of my contribution to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion across the organisation. Through restorative clinical supervision, coaching, leadership development, interview preparation, and advocacy, I have had the privilege of supporting many colleagues to achieve their goals and realise their full potential.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the Chief Nurse Fellowship Programme to anyone considering applying. The fellowship provides a unique opportunity to develop as a leader, broaden your perspective, build confidence, and gain the skills and knowledge needed to drive meaningful change. It challenges you to think differently, encourages personal growth, and opens doors to opportunities that may previously have seemed out of reach. Most importantly, it empowers you to transform ideas into action and make a positive difference for patients, staff, and organisations. My fellowship journey has been truly transformational, and I am immensely grateful for the experiences, learning, support, and opportunities it has provided. It has strengthened my commitment to advancing equality, developing others, and leading positive change across healthcare. Looking back, I can confidently say that the Chief Nurse Fellowship has not only shaped my career but has also empowered me to support and inspire others to achieve their potential and make a lasting impact within the profession.