Many congratulations to associate audiologist Louise Whitelaw, who has won a Rising Star Award at the Advancing Healthcare Awards.

Nominated by Lead Healthcare Scientist Stephanie Doody, Louise joined Forth Valley Audiology Department as an Assistant Technical Officer in summer 2008. Her main duties were to be administratively based but it was clear from the outset that Louise was a great asset to the department and that her positive and forward thinking attitude were talents which would be better used in a more technical delivery of patient care.

Within the year Louise had put herself forward for the new Hearing Aid Associate Diploma at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. She has embodied all that the associate practitioner could achieve for patient care and technical ability if not more.

The Rising Star Awards category is for people within five years of qualifying who have shown a level of initiative, skill and commitment that is truly exceptional. The judges’ feedback: “We are expecting great things of you and certainly expect to see you back as a finalist in the years ahead.”