Salford lecturer wins equality, diversity and inclusion award

The awards acknowledge those who have delivered positive outcomes for their organisation’s EDI work, delivering evident change and enhancing staff/service user experiences.

Patience was nominated for her work to reduce the impact of health inequalities, with a particular focus on supporting people with a learning disability and people minoritised by their race and ethnicity.

Dr Donna Peach, who (along with Andrea Pepe) put Patience forward for the award, commented: “Patience has published research which makes a valuable contribution to further our understanding of the needs of minoritised ethnic people with learning disabilities. She also uses her knowledge and skills to support our students, for instance by developing a week-long innovative high-fidelity immersive simulation with an intersectional lens. 

“Along with other academics in the School of Health and Society, she also facilitates our Black and ethnically minoritised student collective. This is the largest such group in the UK higher education sector and a model of best practice in anti-racist action.”

Patience received the award at the RCN’s Black History Month conference, which aimed to explore the impact and power of speaking up.

On receiving the award, Patience said: “Receiving this award is a profound honour and a testament to the remarkable community of professionals, advocates, and individuals with lived experience of disability that I am privileged to be a part of. This award is not just mine; it belongs to every person who has faced intersectional discrimination, my dedicated colleagues advocating against racism and discrimination, and the inspiring Minority Ethnic Students Collective. I am, because We ARE.”