UHNM Doctor named in national ‘75 @ 75’ list

Dr Sai Pillarisetti, a UHNM Foundation Year Doctor has been named as a hidden GEM (Gifted Ethnic Minority) in the prestigious national 75 @ 75 list, celebrating 75 NHS Staff members for 75 years of the NHS.

The award was instituted by the National BAME Health and Care Awards, Seacole Group and Hunter Healthcare, recognising 75 health and social care professionals from Black, Asian and other minority backgrounds who are making a difference in the health sector.

Sai was recognised for his work in supporting international-origin and minority ethnic doctors through a variety of roles including as Chairman of the Postgraduate Doctors Forum of the British International Doctors Association (BIDA), the youngest to be elected in BIDA’s near 50 year history.

Through BIDA, Sai has led several initiatives to support doctors coming to the UK from abroad as well as minority ethnic doctors within the UK. Recently, he established the BIDA Clinical Attachment Portal - a first of its kind national collaboration of NHS Trusts and GP Practices aimed at addressing the enormous stress and anxiety faced by International Medical Graduates (IMGs) when applying for Clinical Attachments.

Sai said: “It is an honour to be named in the 75 @ 75 list as a hidden GEM - the true gems are the thousands of IMGs and minority ethnic doctors that contribute so much to the NHS everyday. I have always maintained that IMGs are the backbone of the NHS – it would not be an exaggeration to say that the service would collapse if it was not for this key group of doctors.

“We must all do our part to support and encourage them and it feels so great to be part of the UHNM family where we are proud to work with some of the most diverse group of staff members of any NHS Trust.”