Aggrey Burke Fellowship and mentorship celebrated
Dr Aggrey Burke, the UK’s first Black consultant psychiatrist, was special guest at an event the College co-hosted with the Association of Black Psychiatrists (ABP-UK).
Members, affiliates, associates, medical students and other attendees heard first-hand about the important contributions made by schemes like the Aggrey Burke Fellowship for Black Medical Students – the first of its kind launched by the College in 2023.
The Aggrey Burke scheme aims to encourage medical students from Black backgrounds, the most under-represented group, into psychiatry – and the important role mentors have in developing psychiatrists of the future.
Special guest Dr Burke, who began working for the NHS in the 1980s, shared his reflections and said it was an honour to have the scheme in his name.
He welcomed the chance to meet the three Fellows Daniel, Mayomakin and Isabelle, who took part in a panel discussion with Dr Jeya Balakrishna, Associate Registrar for Coaching and Mentoring.
The discussion followed an introduction by winner of the RCPsych Lifetime Achievement Award, Professor Femi Oyebode, and talks by Presidential lead for Equity and Equality, Dr Raj Mohan and President of the ABP-UK, Dr Chinwe Obinwa.
RCPsych President Dr Lade Smith CBE, welcomed the news that the College will be offering the scheme to a new cohort of Fellows in 2025, saying:
“This demonstrates a real commitment to improving equity in outcomes for doctors. We hope this will make a difference and if our current group of Aggrey Burke Fellows are anything to go by, it really will.”
Information about eligibility and how to apply will be posted shortly.