The Trust is proud to announce that two of its senior clinical academics have been awarded Honorary Fellowships by the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS), the single overarching body for the entire UK Healthcare Science workforce.
Dr Kerrie Davies MBE and Dr Jane Freeman have each received the prestigious title of Honorary Fellow of the Academy for Healthcare Science, the highest honour awarded by the Academy. The Fellowship recognises distinguished contributions to healthcare science, leadership, research excellence and the advancement of patient care.
Kerrie Davies, Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of the HCAI Research Laboratory at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Leeds, has built an international reputation for world-leading research in infection diagnostics and Clostridioides difficile infection.
Her leadership spans major regional, national and international roles. She is Co-Deputy Lead for the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Infection Theme at the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Co-Lead for the Early Diagnosis and Personalised Medicine Theme at the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre, Chair of the C. Diff Trust, and Chair of the European Study Group for C. difficile. She also serves as Co-Chair of Empower Leeds Women, supporting career progression for women in healthcare.
A passionate advocate for Healthcare Scientists in clinical academic roles, Dr Davies actively mentors and supports the next generation of scientific leaders.
On receiving the Fellowship, Dr Davies said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the Academy. It reflects not only my work, but the commitment and excellence of the teams and colleagues I’ve had the privilege to work with, and provides a platform from which to celebrate all clinical academic Healthcare Scientists.”
Jane Freeman, Associate Professor and Honorary Clinical Scientist at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals, is a world-leading clinical academic in C. difficile infection and antimicrobial resistance diagnostics.
Dr Freeman previously served as National Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostics at NHS England, where she helped deliver the National Action Plan for AMR. She is Co-Deputy Theme Lead for AMR and Infection at the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre and has long championed the role of Healthcare Scientists in research.
She is also Co-Chair of Empower Leeds Women and has played a key role in teaching, mentoring and supporting laboratory and clinical research colleagues. During her NIHR Clinical Lectureship, she served as an NIHR research ambassador for Healthcare Scientists.
On receiving the Fellowship, Dr Freeman said: “I’m very honoured to receive this recognition from the Academy and would like to take the opportunity to highlight that science is all about teamwork; I therefore share this award with the many talented and dedicated people I have worked with over the years in Leeds and beyond.”
These awards highlight the strength of healthcare science leadership within the Trust and reinforce the our commitment to research-driven patient care, innovation and workforce development.