Medical student named as one of the UK’s Top 150 African and African Caribbean Future Leaders

A Cardiff University medical student has been named as one of the UK’s Top 150 African and African Caribbean Future Leaders for 2021/22.

Fourth-year student and scholar on the Healthcare Leadership Academy programme Ellen Nelson-Rowe has been listed as one of the country’s most outstanding African Caribbean students and new graduates in the Future Leaders magazine, which is used as a role model guide to inspire and raise attainment.

Ellen is among the final 150 students selected to be featured in the publication. She joins 28 other students who have topped this year’s prestigious Medicine category.

For a student to qualify for the Future Leaders list, they must be of African or African Caribbean heritage, 25 years-of-age or under, in university education in the UK and currently on a 60 per cent or above grade average. In addition, they must also take part in activities outside of their studies, which marks them out as a person of distinction.

Ellen’s entrepreneurship impressed her peers, earning her a nomination and place on the list. Following her successful run as President of the African Caribbean Medical Association at Cardiff University 2020-21, a role which she used to influence change within the medical school, she was then invited to become a student representative for the Race Access and Success Collaborative Project, a HEFCW-funded enhancement programme to progress race equality within higher education. In this position, she has contributed to work towards updating the university’s race equality action plans.

Speaking about her achievement, Ellen commented: “It feels exciting to be recognised for my impact in my leadership journey so far. As president of the African Caribbean Medical Association, I was able to influence the initiation of a Student-Staff Race Equality Task force to address needs of race and diversity at the medical school, coming off the back of the tragic death of George Floyd.

“This working group has contributed to updating the raising concerns policy, decolonising the curriculum, producing a Black History month calendar event and an inaugural 2-day Race-Awareness Day. Alongside a colleague, I delivered workshops for staff and students on integrating cultural competence in the workplace. This has also influenced university level attainment gap working groups.”

Head of School of Medicine, Professor Steve Riley, said: “It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to work with Ellen over the last couple of years. Ellen has a constructive, collaborative and conscientious approach which will enable her to build on her great achievements to date. The impact within the School of Medicine is clear to see, I am sure she will continue to influence and innovate in years to come.”