Hallam student shortlisted for student midwife of the year

3rd January 2018

A Sheffield Hallam University student has been shortlisted for the Pregnacare® Student Midwife of the Year award as part of the Royal College of Midwifery's (RCM) annual awards ceremony, which recognises outstanding achievements in midwifery.

Gemma Ford (24) has been recognised for her contribution to the midwifery student experience after taking on roles such as course representative, student ambassador and president of the Midwifery Society which have allowed her to be an advocate for her peers. Through these roles Gemma has been instrumental in trying to improve the experience of her fellow student midwives by taking on feedback from peers and implementing changes to benefit the student body. She has also acted as a role model for potential student midwives at open days and interview events. Gemma is also contributing to a research project for the prestigious Cochrane Library in an exciting opportunity alongside Hallam's professor of midwifery, Hora Soltani. Gemma said: "I didn't expect to be shortlisted among so many other great student midwives so I'm really grateful for this amazing opportunity. "It was the midwife's role as an advocate for women which inspired me to pursue this profession. I want to provide excellent care for the women that I look after and help to improve the wider maternity care system to benefit women and families." Rachael Spencer, senior lecturer in midwifery at Sheffield Hallam, said: "We are really proud of Gemma receiving this prestigious nomination. "Gemma goes above and beyond and is a real credit to the midwifery course." Since 2004, the RCM Annual Midwifery Awards have rewarded, celebrated and shared outstanding achievement in midwifery across the UK. The Student Midwife of the Year award recognises an individual's contribution to the midwifery student experience through their activism, initiative and leadership. The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday 6 March at The Brewery, London.