THE head of Oxford University Hospitals' audiology department has been shortlisted for a prestigious leadership award.
Rachel Humphriss was recognised in the My inspiration: The AHCS Award for the most inspiring leader category at the Advancing Healthcare Awards 2026.
The awards celebrate the efforts of healthcare scientists, allied health professionals and their collaborators across the UK.
A colleague nominated Ms Humphriss for her leadership of the Oxford University Hospitals Audiology Service.
As a clinical scientist and head of audiology, she oversees a team of about 45 people across three services: adult audiology, paediatric audiology and the auditory implant programme.
In her more than five years in the role, she has spearheaded two service transformation projects.
One of these, the reconfiguration of paediatric audiology services, including new facilities at the Horton General Hospital, is still ongoing.
Most of her responsibilities are in leadership and management, but she remains clinically active, conducting clinics in paediatric audiology and adult balance assessment, often supervising colleagues in formal training programmes.
Ms Humphriss' nomination, read out at the awards ceremony on Friday, June 19, praised her 'exceptional leadership and transformation of the service, combining scientific expertise with compassion, clarity and integrity'.
Ms Humphriss said: "We had a wonderful time at the awards... so pleased to have been shortlisted.
"I have an outstanding team and absolutely couldn't have achieved what I have done without their hard work, expertise and support."
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