The Link Feb/March 2026 - Book - Page 4
NEW FOR 2026
Echocardiographer of the Year award
Sponsored by British Society of Echocardiography
Ms Jo Sopala, Chief Executive of the British
Society of Echocardiography (BSE), shares how
the Advancing Healthcare Awards help the
organisation to celebrate the achievements of
these invaluable contributors to our workforce.
The BSE is delighted to be sponsoring an
award at the AHA 2026; unsurprisingly, it is the
Echocardiographer of the Year award, something
we have wanted to provide for our members for
some time. However, it wasn’t until we became
aware of the AHA that we felt we had found an
appropriate home for the award.
Our Marketing and Education Manager, Hatty and
I were lucky enough to be invited along in 2024 as
guests of an industry partner. I am ashamed to say
that we were unaware of the programme before
that. But maybe that is also unsurprising given that
it celebrates the skills and successes of some of the
least known specialists in the NHS and healthcare
sector. And this is why the awards are so important!
When you consider that over 50,000 healthcare
scientists work in the NHS and public health
services, constituting roughly 5% of the total
workforce, you might expect people to be more
aware of them. The fact that they are responsible
for approximately 80% of all patient diagnostic
decisions should certainly give them a profile in
the general conscience. However, maybe it is the
fact that this diverse workforce covers over 50
specialisms that means it remains some way below
the radar.
Working in these hidden professions and being
an ‘unsung hero’ can be hard. There are
few professions in the NHS not facing a
shortage, but at least there is usually
sympathy for overworked doctors
and nurses. Whilst they might be
responsible for the vast majority
Jo Sopala
of diagnoses, they rarely get the
plaudits.
4
In the case of echocardiographers, our cardiac
physiologists and clinical scientists carry out 90%
of echocardiograms in the UK. But I suspect none of
us were offered the option of echocardiographer, or
even cardiac physiologist, by the careers coach at
school! Programmes such as the AHA are vital not
only in raising awareness of the outstanding work
done by these professionals, but also in recognising
individuals who are quietly innovating and
transforming services, improving patient pathways
and the standards of care, frequently with fewer
resources and usually with less reward.
After partnering as a general sponsor for the
awards in 2025, we knew that we had really found
an excellent opportunity to champion the work
of our members. We were even delighted to see a
BSE member, Ms Jane Blackbourn, recognised as a
Rising Star!
That is why the BSE is proud to be actively
supporting the awards in 2026 and sponsoring the
Echocardiographer of the Year award. We know
there are hundreds of worthy recipients amongst
our membership. Echocardiographers who are
going the
extra mile every day, not just for patients, but
also those who volunteer their time and expertise
to train and accredit others, create pathways to
careers in research and/or develop the guidelines
which provide the frameworks for all to work to.
We would like to thank Chamberlain Dunn and the
Advancing Healthcare Award organisers for this
opportunity and for helping us to celebrate
the incredible individuals whose
selfless service and extraordinary
contributions inspire and
motivate us all to do better.
