A Nottingham woman has received national recognition for her inspirational role in driving the transformation of healthcare services across the East Midlands.

Rachel Munton, Managing Director of the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN), is described by the judges of the annual Inspirational Women awards as an "utterly amazing" person who has "created wide ripples of influence and impact" throughout her 30 year career.

Rachel is one of 50 women from around the country honoured at the awards, organised by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) to recognise and celebrate the role of outstanding, passionate and innovative women who are driving change within the NHS.

Rachel has dedicated her life to the NHS, and during a career spanning over 30 years has worked at all levels of healthcare. Starting as a healthcare assistant in Nottingham, Rachel's roles have included clinical management and teaching along with a range of senior positions within trusts, the NHS Leadership Academy and the Department of Health.

She joined the EMAHSN as Managing Director in 2013. The organisation was set up by NHS England in 2013 to bring together partners across the region to spread healthcare innovation, and also to boost the region's economy by helping businesses develop and market new healthcare products and services.

Martin Hindle, Independent Chair of the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, said: "Rachel is an absolutely inspirational and transformational leader and role model and has dedicated her working life to the NHS and to improving outcomes for patients.

"In her role at the Academic Health Science Network, Rachel is at the very heart of healthcare transformation, building collaboration between sectors to identify and spread innovation at pace and scale and improve health services for East Midlands residents.

In addition to her regional role, Rachel is the national chair of the Network of Networks, a partnership of the country's 15 Academic Health Science Networks.

Rachel champions the needs of underserved communities and has played a key role in a number of national initiatives including chairing the Department of Health Equality and Human Rights Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Group, and leading on the Race Equality Impact Assessment of the Draft Mental Health Bill.

Rachel is also an inspirational figure outside work; her voluntary roles include mentoring and lecturing to students on leadership and motivation, and supporting wider causes including the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity Stonewall and "POW", a Nottingham-based prostitute outreach organisation for which she served as a trustee and chair up to April 2014.

Rachel said: "I was surprised and honoured to be shortlisted for this award. Working in healthcare can be immensely rewarding and provides a genuine opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives. I hope that my experience can in some way provide encouragement to a new generation of young women who are considering their career choices."

Alastir McLellan, Editor of HSJ, said: "It will not just be women who can draw inspiration from the achievements of those chosen by our judges. Within weeks of last year's launch there were moves to bring the women together to debate how their example could be used to improve levels of representation. We hope and trust the inspiring women who constitute the class of 2014 will give it even more momentum."

For more background to the awards visit www.hsj.co.uk

Posted July 2014