Introduction
On 30 June 2016 , 180 people from across the West Midlands ’ NHS , industry , academia , third sector and patient population gathered at the University of Warwick for the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network ’ s very first Celebration of Innovation awards .
The awards ceremony was the centrepiece of our annual stakeholder event , which brought to life the 2015-16 Annual Report and showcased programmes supported and introduced by the WMAHSN over the past 12 months .
The awards were established to recognise and celebrate the work of individuals and organisations in developing better healthcare and increasing wealth for local people . With categories for the Innovator of the Year Award and the Innovative Organisation of the Year Award , as well as prizes for Digital Health , Person-centred Care , Wealth Creation , Clinical Trials and Evaluation , Patient Safety and Education and Skills , the ceremony provided an opportunity to celebrate achievements from across the West Midlands .
More than 80 entries were submitted across the eight categories . While it was a very tough decision to name the winners in the light of such a strong field , the other judges and I were in agreement that all of the entries showed an astonishing breadth of scope and approaches that were truly innovative , transforming patient care , providing solutions to significant challenges and breaking down barriers across our region . It was truly inspiring to be involved with judging the awards , and I am already looking forward to next year ’ s WMAHSN innovation awards with enthusiasm !
Dr Christopher Parker CBE Managing Director , WMAHSN
2016 Awards Brochure 3