Dr Niro Jeyakumar | 2023 recipient

Hi everyone, my name is Niro. I'm 27 years old, Sri Lankan Tamil, and I think I'm a pretty straightforward guy. I love my family, my friends, and my work. I've wanted to be a doctor ever since I can remember, and my passion in medicine is neurology, especially movement disorders. I love its clinical precision and the research mysteries that remain to be solved. I dream that one day I'll help uncover the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and develop disease-modifying therapy. I believe that if we can do that, we will change the world. And when we do, I hope we will share our progress with everyone who needs it—in every corner of the globe, regardless of race, religion, income, or gender.

I’m so honoured to receive this prestigious award along the way. I have to give full credit to my family, my friends, and my mentors at Westmead Hospital—there is no better place to forge a real doctor.

Dr. Lauren Madigan is a current Oncology Fellow in Paediatrics and Child Health at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in NSW, Australia.

She completed her Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Sydney in 2019 and went on to commence paediatric training in 2022. She completed her Basic Training in Paediatrics at the Sydney Children’s Hospital and subsequently commenced Advanced Training in Paediatric Medical Oncology in 2025. She is aiming to specialise as a paediatric oncologist, with a special interest in leukaemia and bone marrow transplantation. Outside of work, she can be found exploring Sydney’s beautiful coastline, either running or snorkelling.

Lauren would like to extend a huge thank you for all the support provided by Consultants, Advanced Trainees and peers at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, as well as Campbelltown Hospital, where she completed 9 months of her Basic Training. This award would also not have been possible without the unwavering support from family and friends who have stood by her through all the ups and downs of this journey, and to them, she extends her sincere thanks.

Dr Helena Hurst | 2024 recipient

Dr Helena Hurst graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2014 and after working in Glasgow as a junior doctor, she moved to Australia in 2017. After working in emergency and intensive care medicine, she started in occupational and environmental medicine in 2019 and joined the training program in 2020.

Helena currently works at Resile and enjoys all aspects of occupational and environmental medicine, particularly risk consulting, independent assessments, and overseeing health monitoring for exposure to workplace hazards.

Now she has finished her exams she is enjoying more free time to see friends. After not being back to the UK for 3 years, she has plans for a long holiday to catch up with family and friends! As well as getting back into her hobbies of baking, cooking and walking her dog Dennis, she is also keen to get back into sewing and trying new sports e.g. gymnastics!

Dr Adelaide Morgan | 2024 recipient

Adelaide is a public health physician at Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation in far western NSW. 

Adelaide completed her medical training at UNSW, undertaking a combined Bachelor of Arts/Doctor of Medicine. She completed her AFPHM training in 2024, with placements at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, the NSW Ministry of Health and Maari Ma. 

She wants to say a big thank you to her amazing study group, family, supervisors, mentor and the many colleagues who supported her through exam prep - it was definitely a team effort. 

Dr Jessica Head | 2025 recipient

Dr Jess Head completed her postgraduate medical training at Monash University in 2017, following a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. She's currently undertaking further training in Pain Medicine through the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Fellowship of Pain Medicine.

Her rehabilitation training has varied, including specialty rotations in Spinal Medicine, Acquired Brain Injury, and Amputee Rehabilitation across Victoria and New South Wales. Jess has a special interest in complex pain management and is undertaking a procedural endorsement program in interventional pain management next year.

At home, she's the proud mum of 2 active boys and has a wonderful husband who has supported her through all the various exams, moves, and training requirements.

Dr Kate Middleton | 2024 recipient

Dr Kate Middleton is dual training in paediatric rehabilitation medicine and community paediatrics.  She currently works in Victoria at the Royal Children's Hospital and has worked with the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service over the last 2 years of her training.  She has a Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Medicine from Deakin University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.  She is completing a Masters in Bioethics at Monash University.

She has a strong interest in helping young people living with disability achieve their individual goals and supporting their participation and quality of life.  She enjoys the teamwork involved in rehabilitation medicine.  She has research interests in medical ethics and brain injury, and volunteers as an editor for a paediatric rehabilitation journal.

Kate would like to thank her husband, daughter, colleagues, study/survival group and friends for their support throughout the exam preparation.  Like most things in paediatric rehab, it was a multidisciplinary team effort.