The final of the 2024 SCOPE Independent Prescriber (IP) Bursary Awards was held on Monday, 17th June, marking another year of exceptional talent and dedication in the field of optometry. Now in its third year, the SCOPE IP Bursary Awards continues to draw a high calibre of applicants, reflecting the growing commitment to enhancing patient care through advanced training.
From numerous outstanding submissions, six finalists were selected to present their case studies to a panel of esteemed judges. The judging panel, led by Professor Nick Rumney and including Sarah Farrant and Dr Keyur Patel, praised the finalists for their high-quality presentations and unwavering dedication to patient care.
This year, the first prize was increased to £3000, highlighting SCOPE’s commitment to supporting the professional development of optometrists. Despite the fierce competition, we are delighted to announce that the overall winner of the 2024 IP Bursary is Orlágh Conway from OC Eyecare, Carrickmore.
Orlagh Conway.
Orlágh expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am delighted to be the recipient of the IP Bursary 2024. This investment by SCOPE will be invaluable to the rural community that I serve in the north of Ireland. Being able to prescribe is a game changer. The future of optometry is bright, and by upskilling, I am giving my patients next level patient care. Thanks to SCOPE, my patients and practice will forever be indebted."
The two runners-up, each receiving £1500 towards their IP course fees, are:
- Aaminah Khan, Locum Optometrist, Warwickshire
- Sonam Hussain, Specsavers Leamington Spa
Aaminah Khan shared her journey, stating, "In 2022, I made the conscious decision to temporarily slow down my career aspirations to focus on raising my son. For those, like me, who are passionate about advancing the field of optometry, it can be challenging to manage both professional growth and family commitments. So I am incredibly thankful to SCOPE for the opportunity and the support to reintegrate into the profession with IP. I am very excited to start this new chapter, eager to learn from the course, and begin to offer my patients an enhanced level of ophthalmic care."
Aaminah Khan.
Sonam Hussain also expressed her excitement, "As someone who has always been a firm advocate for IP, I am very excited to begin my journey to becoming IP qualified. This bursary will provide me with a firm foundation in undertaking the IP course and using it in future practice, to the benefit of my patients and the local community. Integrated healthcare is the future of the profession, and as someone who conducts a large majority of MECS/EOS appointments in my area, being IP qualified will help provide optimal patient care and limit unnecessary onward referrals to an already overburdened healthcare system."
Sonam Hussain.
The remaining three finalists each received a £100 educational voucher:
- Aalia Rahman, Whipps Cross Hospital & Goldsmith and Webb Opticians
- Adham Khan, Locum Optometrist
- John Davidson, Querido & Davidson
Edel Duffy, Head of Medical at SCOPE, expressed her pride in the success of this initiative, "We are delighted that the SCOPE IP Bursary Awards have generated such continued interest among optometrists looking to upskill. This can only benefit patients. SCOPE is committed to enabling optometrists to provide quality care for their patients."
For more information about the IP Bursary awards, please contact info@scopeeyecare.com.
Contact SCOPE Healthcare
Email: info@scopehealthcare.com
Phone: +44 123 456 789
