As part of our South Asian Heritage Month (18th July to 17th August) celebrations, we’re proud to share stories from some of the incredible South Asian colleagues who make a real difference every single day at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
This month is a special opportunity to recognise the contributions, heritage, and inspiring journeys of our South Asian staff, who care for patients, support families, and enrich our workforce with their skills, values, and lived experiences.
Stay tuned as we continue to spotlight their powerful stories throughout the month, in line with this year’s theme: Roots to Routes.
Name: Aliya Israr
Job Title: Administrative Assistant for Eat Nose and Throat (ENT) Department
Could you share your story of your family’s journey from South Asia to the UK?
My family first came to the UK in the 1950s, my grandad was the first family member to travel to the UK and he was in the army in Pakistan. My grandmother cultivated a passion for learning that spread through the family and reports of better education, steady jobs, and safety in the UK ignited a quiet determination in them, with a belief that despite the hardships ahead, the journey would be worth every sacrifice.
How long have you worked for our Trust?
I have worked for the Trust for 10 years, I started as a healthcare assistant, but my current role is working for ENT has an admin assistant.
What motivates or inspires you day to day? Anything in particular about your role?
I’m motivated by the stories people carry inside them, every conversation feels like opening a new chapter. Uncovering hopes for those who need to achieve a better lifestyle for themselves and their families.
How do you pass on cultural values, lessons, and traditions to your family and those around you?
Daily practice and conversations with work colleagues and embedding values in everyday life makes them second nature. Simple habits and shared language reinforce respect, gratitude, and curiosity. Modelling polite greetings and small acts of service.
Can you highlight an influential figure from South Asian communities whose journey has inspired you and you would want to make sure everyone knows about.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on December 25, 1876, in Karachi, then part of British India. His family’s mercantile background afforded him a solid educational foundation at the Sindh Madressa-tul-Islam before he travelled to London to study law at Lincoln’s Inn. Upon returning in 1896, Jinnah quickly rose to prominence as one of Bombay’s leading barristers, known for his sharp reasoning and eloquence in court.
As Pakistan’s first Governor-General, Jinnah delivered his iconic speech on August 11, 1947, declaring: “You are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste, or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” His commitment to democracy, religious freedom, and minority rights continues to inspire leaders today worldwide.