Moorfields Stars 2023 finalists - academic achievements

Moorfields Stars recognises the outstanding achievements of staff and volunteers at Moorfields and UCL. We’re very proud to support Moorfields’ Stars 2023. The awards ceremony was held on 27 September and the winners were announced including the award for Charity Champion!

It was a wonderful event with finalists coming together for the awards at The Honourable Artillery Company in Moorgate close to Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Moorfields’ world-class reputation is a product of an incredible workforce. Moorfields received around 500 entries this year, showing colleagues’ passion and dedication in providing excellent eye care and innovations in research - changing patients’ lives.

Roxanne Crosby Nwaobi - winner of the chair’s award

We’re excited to be supporting two awards for Moorfields Eye Charity Champion, and Innovation and Improvement.

Charity Champion award

The Charity Champion award is our opportunity to thank staff and volunteers for their support whether through fundraising activities, being an ambassador for the charity, showcasing what we do or helping in another way.

And the finalists are:

Sarah Canning, head of optometry, Moorfields Eye Hospital
Sarah is completing a year of outstanding fundraising challenges to support Moorfields Eye Charity. This includes a night climb of Snowdon; a dawn to dusk canoe challenge on the Wye River; Scilly Isles swim challenge and Eye to Eye 2023 and encouraging colleagues to take part too.

She also raises awareness of the charity at Moorfields and more widely.

Dr Amanda-Jayne Carr, lecturer, UCL institute of Ophthalmology
Amanda-Jayne always makes time for the charity, whether being filmed for a campaign or opening her lab for a donor - she is willing to go the extra mile. Amanda shares her knowledge, bringing a fresh perspective that resonates with a wide audience.

She has been very generous in sharing insights and helping bring the charity’s donors closer to research.

Dr Colin Chu, Wellcome clinical research career development fellow and honorary consultant ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital
Dr Colin Chu hosted a key donor event and a special donor visit for a charitable foundation which has inspired support. The behind-the-scenes visits include talks presented in an accessible and exciting way.

He eloquently conveyed the value of research, helping a non-expert audience to understand complex processes and demonstrating the equipment in action.

Naomi Owen Head of Communications, Moorfields Eye Hospital
Naomi Owen has been instrumental in making sure the charity’s staff, supporters and other audiences understand the role of Oriel and the difference it will make.

Naomi has provided compelling messages and content. She’s always helpful and friendly and has enabled the charity to put together strong and timely funding proposals which have had an impact on Oriel’s philanthropy.

Naomi Owen, Amanda-Jayne Carr, Sarah Canning and Colin Chu

Congratulations to Sarah Canning for being the winner of the Moorfields Eye Charity Champion Award.

Innovation and improvement award

This award recognises pioneering innovations and improvements which benefit Moorfields’ patients.

And the finalists are:

Elda Isufi, quality compliance officer
Elda strives to make things better for staff and patients and does so with empathy and kindness. She has worked hard to support departments to raise quality and safety standards and she is inspirational in her approach, achieving great results through initiative, collaboration and inclusivity.

She has developed new strategies for sharing learning and information, set up payment links by email for patient orders and has put in better systems for highlighting any necessary adjustments for patients with learning disabilities or additional needs.

Dr Aadil Kazi, NIHR Moorfields biomedical research centre (BRC) manager
Aadil was instrumental in putting together a successful £20 million funding application to the National Institute of Health Research for a further five years of funding for our Biomedical Research Centre.

The award has a huge impact on all the translational research carried out at the trust and ultimately impacting patient treatments and outcomes. 

He worked tirelessly to design new ways of co-ordinating the application, gave crucial strategic input to every aspect of the bid and his outstanding coordinating financial and personal skills made the successful award possible.

Romina Lombardo, quality and safety administrator
Romina is passionate about quality and safety and cares about patient experience and protecting them from harm. She recently developed a new tool for the surgical count audit, provided training and used it to carry out peer reviews.

Her audit learnings have been shared widely and the tool she created will be used going forward. Romina is a role model and her commitment to improve processes and outcomes creates positive engagement within teams and her peer reviews are contributing to a better quality of care.

Martin Kuper, chief executive, Moorfields Eye Hospital

Congratulations to Dr Aadil Kazi for being the winner of the Innovation and Improvement award.

The charity is so proud to be part of these important celebrations, supporting the event and these two awards. Moorfields Stars is a highlight of our year. It shows just how valued the staff at Moorfields and UCL are, and the difference their work and dedication makes to people with sight loss.

Robert Dufton, chief executive, Moorfields Eye Charity

The incredible work of every nominee has been an inspiration, and makes Moorfields the amazing place it is.

Congratulations to all the finalists and everyone who was nominated!