Meet Dr Chanelle Smith as part of our series “Inspirational You, Awesome Sisters United” about women in medicine achieving incredible things in today’s world.
Dr Chanelle Smith is
- a winner of the Rising Star Award 2022
- Ambassador for the Captain Tom Foundation, FitforIcons & Frontline19
- Chief mentor for Medic Mentor
Stepping Up During Covid-19
In her final year as a medical student at the University of Bristol, amidst the most desperate times of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Chanelle stepped up alongside many of her peers and volunteered to help on the wards at Gloucester Royal Hospital.
She worked on the frontline in Acute Medicine and Critical Care under immense pressure. It was this humanitarian act that earnt her a place in Captain Tom Moore’s children’s book, “100 Reasons to Hope.”
Inspired by the courage and dedication of the staff , Chanelle understood and expressed during this placement that it was “an honour to be part of the Medical Profession”.
Healthcare for the BAME Community
Now working as an FY2 in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Chanelle continues to hold many other roles in addition to her medical duties. These show her determination to address disparities in healthcare provision in the BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) community.
Chanelle is working with BAME Maternity, an organisation which recognises the heightened risks facing pregnant Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority women.
Statistics show that women from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK have significantly higher maternal morbidity and mortality than white women. In addition, they are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital with Covid-19 infection during pregnancy.
Objectives to enhance care include:
- Ensuring ethnic status is recorded on maternity information systems.
- Advising clinicians to have a low threshold to review and assess women from a BAME background.
- Tailored communications.
- Advice on vitamins, supplements, and nutrition during pregnancy, particularly vitamin D
Forever Africa Conference and Events – FACE
In 2020, Chanelle was awarded first prize by FACE (Forever Africa Conference and Events), a Pan-African initiative founded by the staff and students at the University of Bristol, for the “Pius Adesanmi Memorial Student Award for Outstanding Pan-Africanism.”
This was in recognition of her work on volunteering in a charity school in Akosombo, Ghana.
The goals of FACE include:
- Closing the attainment gap that affects Black students.
- Encouraging more Black students to consider academia as a career choice.
- Ensuring institutional engagement with marginalised communities.
A Shining Light in Medicine
As Chief Mentor at Medic Mentor, Dr Chanelle Smith supports pupils wishing to become doctors to apply for medical school. This company assists prospective students with UCAT, CV building, work experience, medical school interviews, personal statements, and holds conferences with speakers who give real insights into what it’s like to be a doctor.
Although early in her career, Chanelle has already undertaken several research projects, won a poster presentation for an audit on barriers to young diabetic patients attending retinopathy screening, and been awarded a National Teaching Award.
Her work has seen her nominated as an exceptional “North West local leader”. She was shortlisted as a ‘Volunteer of the Year” at the ELHT Star Award ceremony where she was asked to open the ceremony by performing a poem.
She is also due to be featured in a Festival of Inclusion to promote a message of diversity and inclusion across the Trust.
Dr Chanelle Smith intends to pursue a career in Ophthalmology, and we have no doubt she will achieve this objective and continue to be a shining light in Medicine, and an advocate of human rights.
