DHP Chair’s Mentoring Award winner – Dr Liz Jenkinson
We are delighted to announce that Dr Elizabeth Jenkinson, Associate Professor in Health Psychology at the University of the West of England, Bristol was awarded the Chair’s Mentoring Award for 2025.
This award recognises the contribution Liz has made to the discipline and profession of health psychology through her commitment to early career and mid-career health psychologists (e.g. UG, PGT, Qualification in Health Psychology, Professional Doctorate and Doctoral students), academic and practitioner peers and the wider profession.
The many supporting letters from mentees past and present detailed:
- “Her deep knowledge of health psychology, combined with her unwavering support and ability to foster meaningful professional relationships, make her an exceptional mentor. She has a rare ability to balance academic rigour with genuine care for her mentees’ wellbeing and long-term success.”
- “She has a rare ability to truly see her mentees – understanding where they are in their journey, what matters to them and what they need to move forward. Rather than prescribing, she offers insight, challenge and encouragement in a way that empowers ownership and development.”
- “Liz’s mentoring is grounded in authenticity, integrity and an unwavering belief in the potential of others. She has been a consistent, invaluable presence, shaping careers, supporting growth and amplifying the contribution of Health Psychology nationally.”
Many of the supporting letters highlighted Liz as a dedicated pioneer in developing career pathways for the next generation of UK health psychologists. Since 2021, Liz has championed Health Psychology and career opportunities in the NHS in her role as NHS England National Training Director for Health Psychology, including leading the recent pilot programme of NHS funded training in health psychology. Dr Adrian Whittington, Clinical lead for Psychological Professions, NHS England described Liz as a leader who has:
- “Enthusiastically and persuasively promoted the discipline and contribution of health psychologists within the NHS nationally. This has made a measurable difference to rates of employment of health psychologists in the NHS in England”.
Liz said:
“I’m particularly pleased to receive this BPS DHP Mentoring Award as I strongly believe in the power of mentorship and its capacity to strengthen our profession. It was very humbling to read the many letters of support from mentees and colleagues from across my career. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank them for letting me be a part of their journeys. The future of health psychology is bright thanks to them.’
DHP Excellence in Health Psychology Early Career Award winner – Dr Nicola O’Donnell
We are equally delighted to announce that Dr Nicola O’Donnell was the recipient of the DHP Excellent in health psychology early career award for 2025. Nicola is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of York and a health psychologist at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. This award recognises the contribution Nicola has made through her research into retinoblastoma, as well as recognising the extent of her wider portfolio in both research and practice.
DHP Chair, Amy Baraniak, said “it was a joy to read this nomination, which was very impressive”.
On hearing she had received the award, Nicola said:
“I’m thrilled to receive this award. Thank you for recognising my work, it means a great deal”.
DHP Doctoral and Stage 2 Research Award winner – Dr Angela Long
The stage 2 award winner for 2025 was Dr Angela Long of Northumbria University, who presented her research entitled ‘”They’re pushing people towards pharmacy”: An exploration of community pharmacy’s role in the management of musculoskeletal conditions’ at the DHP conference in Cardiff in June 2025.
DHP MSc Research Award winner – Faye Doughty
The MSc Research award winner for 2025 was Faye Doughty of Northumbria University, who presented her research entitled “Determinants of future cervical screening among young women in Northeast England using the Behaviour Change Wheel” at the DHP conference in Cardiff in June.
A word from previous MSc award winner, Khudayja Datoo-Jaffer
DHP Research Award…and beyond!
I am deeply humbled that my MSc research entitled ‘Hollow Handprints: The lived experiences of women in the UK returning to work after miscarriage’ was deemed “of outstanding quality, showing originality and potential for impact”. I am grateful to the DHP for this prestigious recognition and for their generous award which included attendance at the two-day conference in Sheffield in 2023.
I was delighted to share my research at the conference and was in sheer disbelief when I noticed how many attendees filed into the room for my presentation (it may have been a small room but, to me, it meant the world!). I was even more awe-struck by the warm response I received following the presentation and the thoughtful discussion it sparked.
My presentation at the 2023 DHP conference initiated a conversation between my supervisor and I on how I might integrate the research into my current role as a Trainee Health Psychologist. As I commenced my Stage Two Qualification in Health Psychology just a few months prior to the conference, this was the perfect time to shape my projects and in particular, my research competency.
I am very passionate about leveraging my training to contribute – albeit a scratch on the surface – towards better workplace support for people who experience loss, and this was one avenue into doing that.
My trainee health psychologist position, funded by NHS England, was focussed on workforce redesign in the NHS, so I was well-placed to investigate the unvoiced needs of employees in the context of loss. In 2022, 540,333 deaths were registered in England. Given that approximately 1.4 million people are employed by the NHS in England alone (NHS Workforce Statistics, 2023), many NHS employees will experience grief through the loss of their patient, colleague, family or friend.
With a need to speak the unspoken, I set out to use a behavioural science approach to explore workplace support for employees who have experienced a personal bereavement. My training continues to unfold in a new landscape within Public Health, yet the humanistic essence of health psychology and behavioural science remains the golden thread weaving through our work – it makes me look forward to what the future holds!
link