BGS announces Rising Star Award Winners for 2024

The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) is delighted to announce the winners of the Rising Star Awards for 2024. 

The prestigious annual BGS Rising Star Awards are awarded to people who show exceptional promise in their research or clinical quality work and have the potential to be leaders within the field of healthcare for older people.   

The awards were open to all medical practitioners from the wider multiprofessional workforce including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and pharmacists.   

About the Rising Star Winners 2024

Research Award Winner: Dr Peter Hanlon 

Dr Peter Hanlon is a GP and a researcher with a special interest in healthcare for older people. 

Peter’s research focuses on the management of long-term conditions in people living with frailty. He has published over 74 papers (34 as first or senior author) focussing on frailty, social vulnerability and multiple long-term conditions. He is a mentor to students and healthcare professionals interested in the care of older people and is currently developing an independent programme of work focusing on frailty and chronic illness. 

Over the next five years, Peter's priority is to develop his skills and networks, as well as to secure additional funding, to deliver research that directly informs the care and management of frailty in older people within a primary care setting. 

Clinical Quality Award winner: Jacqui Holmes
Jacqui Holmes is the Operational Lead for Inpatient Physiotherapy at Kingston Hospital and currently leads improvement projects aimed at preventing deconditioning across Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.
 
She advocates for innovative, evidence-based approaches to reduce hospital inactivity and immobility which prevents acute deconditioning, enhances patient outcomes, and transforms hospital culture through the Eat, Drink, Dress, Move (EDDM) project.
 
Over the next five years, Jacqui aims to successfully embed the EDDM project across London, with the aspiration that it will be adopted nationally as a quality improvement programme to tackle frailty and acute deconditioning.
Research award for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals: Dr Abi Hall
Dr Abi Hall qualified as a physiotherapist in 2004 and has since dedicated her career to advancing the rehabilitation of older adults through clinical practice and research.
 
In 2016, Abi took a significant step in her career by transitioning into research, earning an NIHR Infrastructure Doctoral Fellowship, and completing a PhD in Medical Studies in 2019.
 
Her work and research into frailty, dementia, and workforce transformation demonstrate her commitment to improving healthcare for older people and influencing policy and practice at both local and national levels.
 

Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, BGS President, said:  

We know we need to find new and improved ways to deliver high-quality healthcare for older people now and into the future.  We have established the BGS Rising Star Awards to celebrate innovation in care through research and quality improvement.  

This year’s winners have already made a significant impact on improving care and shown their leadership potential. I’m excited to see their future plans and progress."

Speaking of his award, Dr Peter Hanlon, said: 

I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded the Rising Star for Research and am very grateful to the BGS for the honour. Being part of the BGS has provided great opportunities to engage with and learn from people with a shared passion for the care of older people across multiple disciplines.  

This award will help me to develop my research seeking to inform the management of people living with frailty and long-term conditions in primary care."

Speaking of her award, Jacqui Holmes, said: 

I am incredibly proud and deeply honoured to receive the British Geriatrics Society Rising Star Award for Clinical Quality. This recognition not only draws attention to the important issue of tackling frailty and acute deconditioning but also highlights the vital role and capabilities of Allied Health Professional (AHP) leaders in driving innovation and quality improvement in health care for older people.  

I hope this empowers more AHPs to use their voice to lead positive change. I am especially grateful to use this opportunity to showcase the Eat, Drink, Dress, Move Project which encourages a multidisciplinary approach to promoting activity, mobility and holistic care to prevent acute deconditioning in hospital.  

Thank you to the BGS for this prestigious award and to all those who have contributed to success of the Eat, Drink, Dress, Move Project."

Speaking of her award, Dr Abi Hall, said:  

I am truly honoured to receive the British Geriatrics Society Rising Star in Research Award. Like many Allied Health Professionals, I’ve often struggled to accept recognition, and imposter syndrome has been a constant companion throughout my career. I never imagined I could succeed in research, but this award is proof that with persistence, passion, and the right support, it’s possible. 

My journey, from clinical practice as a physiotherapist to research, has been driven by a deep commitment to improving the rehabilitation and care of older people, particularly those living with frailty and dementia. I hope this recognition can inspire other AHPs, especially those who doubt themselves, to take that first step into research. 

I am incredibly grateful to my colleagues, mentors, and the older adults who have shaped my work. This award highlights the vital role of research in transforming care for older people, and I look forward to continuing to make a difference while encouraging others to believe in their potential."