Member Article

World-leading Liverpool doctor wins Lifetime Achievement Award at prestigious European ceremony as Oliver King Foundation honoured

One of the North West’s top doctors, Professor Frank Joseph, was bestowed with a prestigious honour at the 2021 European Diversity Awards.

Professor Joseph is a world-leading physician in Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Countess of Chester Hospital and was named Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

He has also been leading the fighting against the Coronavirus pandemic for the NHS and private medical and diagnostics company DAM Health - based from Mossley Hill.

Incredible charity the Oliver King Foundation - which has worked tirelessly for the last decade to install defibrillators in schools across the country, while lobbying the government to pass legislation making it mandatory for every institution to have the life-saving equipment installed - was named Charity of the Year.

Mark King, who launched the Oliver King Foundation in 2011 after his son Oliver suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in a swimming race at school but the lack of access to a defibrillator meant that he could not be saved, gave a powerful speech after receiving a £5,000 cheque from sponsors Societe Generale.

The awards, in association with headline sponsor UnitedHealth Group, celebrate leading diversity and inclusion champions while recognising achievements across race, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity and religious belief over the past year.

The ceremony took place on November 11 at the Landmark Hotel, London, and was hosted by actress and author Sophie Ward. The star-studded event saw a host of celebrities turn out for the occasion with big names from the worlds of entertainment, music and royalty showing their support.

Professor Frank Joseph, who was bestowed with honour by the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson at the ceremony, said: “It is a real honour to be named winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award. We have had a tough 18 months with a horrendous virus which has caused so much suffering for thousands of families across the country.

“I was among so many deserving recipients and fantastic companies who are all playing their part in fighting for a fairer, diverse and more inclusive Britain.”

Linda Riley, European Diversity Awards founder, added: “When the country was experiencing a devastating surge in the number of Covid cases and catastrophic infection rates, the assistance of Dam Health Group’s Professor Frank Joseph saved countless lives. We celebrated the brave and brilliant efforts he has made to provide the highest level of care for people, both at home and abroad, in this time of crisis.

“Every deserving winner has made real achievements in race, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or religious belief over the past year. The corporations and business leaders who picked up awards are dynamic and reflect the huge efforts corporate organisations are now making to improve diversity and inclusion. We should never forget how far we’ve come but there is still so much more to do.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Miller .