Student midwife nominated for the Royal College of Midwives Student of the Year Award

Katharine ‘Siobhan’ Pearson, a BSc Midwifery student at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College London, has been shortlisted for the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Student Midwife of the Year Award.

The RCM Annual Midwifery Awards celebrate excellence in the midwifery profession. The JOHNSON’S® Student Midwife Award is awarded to a student midwife who has made an exceptional contribution to the student midwife community. Recipients of this award must have shown consistent dedication within their role, and demonstrated a strong commitment to midwifery and the Royal College of Midwives.

Siobhan was nominated by her student peers, who said they “could not think of a more deserving candidate.” Her peers commented, “Siobhan has improved our student experience exceptionally, using her role in the Nightingale Student Council to act as an advocate for the student body within both the university and the clinical areas. She is noteworthy for her commitment, positivity, kindness, intelligence, selflessness and integrity.”

Siobhan commented, “I am delighted to be shortlisted for the RCM Johnson’s Student Midwife of the Year Award. I feel extremely honoured and humbled to be nominated by this incredible group of woman and men. Although I would love to win, I feel that I have already brought home the trophy by having my efforts recognised by my friends and colleagues.”

She added that she was not aware her peers had nominated her, “I was completely surprised, and at first I thought there had been a mistake. I had no idea I’d been nominated!”

Dr Elsa Montgonery, Head of Department of Midwifery at the Faculty, said, "I have seen firsthand Siobhan's tireless commitment to her fellow students in the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery and I know from feedback I have received from mentors and women for whom she has cared, that Siobhan is a passionate advocate in the clinical areas too."

Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, commented: "Just to be shortlisted is a great achievement and I congratulate Siobhan on getting this far. This award highlights the passion and drive among our student midwives and how they can contribute to improving the services and the care women receive. I wish her the best of luck at the awards ceremony."

The RCM Annual Midwifery Awards ceremony will be held in London on Tuesday 7 March 2017, where the winners will be announced.