Thank you for taking the time to look at nominating someone for the Tomorrow's Podiatry Awards, the first podiatry focused awards that recognise the outstanding contributions of those who enrich the student experience and the students who shine.

The Tomorrow’s Podiatry Awards are split into 6 categories recognising excellence and contribution across the student experience. For the student awards (they have a * below) students, educators, podiatrists and anyone else (including yourself) can nominate someone for the award, for the Educator of the year award or inspiration in podiatry award you have to be a student.

The categories are:

Student of the year*
Research Student of the year*
The Student Leadership award*
Society of the year*
Educator of the year
Inspirational podiatrist of the year

Before submitting we recommend you take a moment to look over the judging criteria for each award and use them as a guide for your nominations. The best nominations reflect the judging criteria, to help you write better nominations this year we are launching the nomination builder. If you want a little guidance writing a nomination, you can use it to lend a helping hand and then copy and paste the nomination into the form.

Please select the award you would like to nominate for from the list below.

This award recognises an outstanding student whilst celebrating the breadth of learning needed to in qualifying as a Podiatrist.

Nominees will have demonstrated and excelled in a wide range of learning from the clinical skills to academic achievement, which underpins the treatment of all patients. In essence, entrants must combine the knowledge, skills and qualities required to excel. As a student entering the profession, the winner will have a broad understanding of a range of conditions and treatments, and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the podiatry profession and its responsibilities.

How do I write a compelling nomination?

In order for your nomination to stand out against the many others we receive, you must explain and include evidence and clear examples of what makes your nominee so exceptional.

Don’t just say your nominee is outstanding – prove it!

It’s important to use specific and concrete examples to illustrate how your nominee meets each of the and award criteria. Provide examples of how your nominee has demonstrated outstanding character and is a deserving candidate for the award.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges are looking for an exceptional student podiatrist who can demonstrate excellence one or more of the following criteria:

• Demonstrating knowledge of and competence in clinical skills.
  Understanding the rationale behind evidence-based practice, treatment choices and care pathways.
• Displaying interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to use them with patients, families and carers.
• Showing an ability to act with compassion and empathy.
• Achieving academic excellence.
• Working as a team member and demonstrating an appreciation of the role of podiatry within the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Reflecting on their practice with the confidence to question its application even if they may challenge themselves or others.

This award recognises an outstanding research student whilst celebrating the breadth of learning needed at MSc and PhD level and role research plays in progressing the profession.

Nominees will be at the beginning of their post graduate research career (currently undertaking a higher degree: Masters or PhD programme of study) in an area of study relevant to the profession of podiatry. They will have demonstrated and excelled in a wide range of learning from the clinical skills to academic achievement, which underpins the treatment of all patients. In addition, they will show a passion for translating this learning into clinical practice and show leadership traits that will help progress outcomes and patient care around the lower limb.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges are looking for an exceptional student podiatrist who can demonstrate excellence one or more of the following criteria:

• Assembly of an excellent body of work with clear and immediate benefits to the profession of podiatry.
• Continued commitment of the applicant to continuing research within the profession of podiatry.
• Reflecting on their research and how it relates to clinical practice.
• Working as a team member and demonstrating an appreciation of the role of podiatry within the wider healthcare context.
• Demonstrable track record in foot and ankle research engagement and dissemination activities.
• Significant potential for making a change across the profession of podiatry and wider reach to other professions.
• On a trajectory to becoming a future health research leader.

This award recognises a student or student-led initiative that has inspired peers and shown leadership either on a placement, at their higher education institution or in the wider community.

Nominees could have contributed to their studies or placement in such a way that they have inspired their peers and those they have worked with, for example by advising, guiding and acting as enablers for junior peers, working with a charity, undertaking a personal project or developing an innovation that would benefit health professionals or patients. Initiatives will have been an innovative activity or project that has positively enhanced the profile of podiatry or improved the student experience. This award is particularly for the campaign, project or initiative itself, so may recognise collaboration between groups or an individual student.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges are looking for an exceptional student podiatrist who can demonstrate excellence one or more of the following criteria:

• Contributing to their academic or practice work in a way that inspires their peers.
• Contributing to a transformational project or practical work that proves the student’s abilities to inspire and enable others.
• Working in an innovative way to inspire and motivate those around them.
  Demonstrating the skills and attributes required of being a podiatrist that offers inspiration to others.
• Acting with integrity and enabling fellow students.
• Having a measurable impact on particular groups of people.
• Empowering their peers to either achieve more as an individual or positively impact their University community.
• Collaborating with other students or groups.
• Being recognised for the work they’ve done in their local communities.
  Promoting podiatry and its impact within the university in their local community or further afield.

This award recognises the student-run society that has tried to improve the academic or student experience for their members across the whole academic year.

Nominees will have contributed to the student experience, whether it’s hosting fundraisers, organising a variety of socials, offering opportunities for CV-enhancing experiences, promoting podiatry or looking out for student wellbeing, this award is for a society that has consistently provided members with great experiences over the year across all areas.

What are the judges looking for?

The judges are looking for the society which can demonstrate in excellence in one or more of the following criteria:

• Focusing on giving students help with their studies by arranging guest lectures, tutoring or mentoring.
• Creating an environment where everyone is welcome to socialise, share thoughts and feel comfortable.
• Activities of the Society have in some way empowered their members to either achieve more as an individual or positively impact on their University community.
• Collaborating with other student groups.
• Going the extra mile to ensure members feel settled within their course.
  Organising a variety of events.
• Demonstrating good communicational links with their department/school/University.
• Promoting podiatry and its impact within the university in their local community or further afield.

This award recognises excellent teaching wherever it happens. Teachers can inspire, enthuse and motivate students; furthering their quest for knowledge and understanding.

Nominees are nominated by current students and will have demonstrated a passion for podiatry and their specialism that makes the subject exciting. They explain their subject in a clear and understandable way, taking time to explain the tricky parts whilst making students feel included and engaged in the learning process. Nominees can be from an academic or clinical setting.

What are the judges looking for?

An exceptional educator who can demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following criteria:

• Bringing to life the importance of the role of the podiatrist.
• Engendering a sense of pride in their students’ chosen profession.
• Teaching clinical subjects with a flair for bringing the academic side of the course to life.
• Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Coaching, mentorship and emotional support for students.
• Continuing innovation to improve students’ learning experience.
• Helping student podiatrists achieve their potential.

This award recognises that it’s not just in lectures where future podiatrists are inspired. It’s the podiatrists they meet throughout their journey that shape their interests, passions and future.

Nominees will have helped shape the next generation of podiatrists. This may have been by inspiring them to study podiatry, enthusing them in a particular aspect or setting standards to aspire too. Nominees will go above and beyond expectations, demonstrating dedication and a contagious passion for podiatry and its specialities. Nominees can come from any aspect of the podiatric world or that associated with it. They could be educators, clinicians or speaker, the most important thing is they inspired a student or students to pursue excellence in podiatry.

What are the judges looking for?

An inspirational nominee who can demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following criteria:

• Bringing to life the importance of the role of the podiatrist.
• Engendering a sense of pride in their students’ chosen profession.
• Coaching, mentorship, sponsorship or emotional support for students.
• Working in an innovative way to inspire and motivate those around them.
• Helping student podiatrists achieve their potential
• Demonstrating the skills and attributes required of being a podiatrist that offers inspiration to others.
• Empowering students to either achieve more as an individual or positively impact their learning.
• Promoting podiatry and its impact within the university, their local trust, in their local community or further afield.