Shrita Lakhani - Chair of the Forum 

Hello everyone. I’m Shrita and a speciality registrar in Paediatric Dentistry. I am privileged to be Chair of the Trainee Forum during my fellowship role in the Future Leaders Programme. I am passionate about improving training experiences for all Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists in Training and am enthusiastic about ensuring the trainee voice is heard when decisions are being made that affect us. I am keen to hear about your thoughts and experiences and would encourage you to get in touch at england.traineeforum.yh@nhs.net.

Outside of work, I play netball (for my sanity!) and enjoy country walks with my rather excitable cockapoo dog.

Waqas Din - Quality Lead

Theresa Ugalahi - Equality and Diversity Lead

I am a Child and Adolescent Mental Health trainee by background. I also have an interest and MSC in Public health. This year, I am out of programme as the Leadership fellow for Differential Attainment with the NHS England WT&E (Yorkshire & Humber) Future Leader’s programme. In my spare time, I love reading, travelling on holidays and sampling different cuisines with friends/family.

I am passionate about authenticity, equity and belonginess. As a clinician who have worked across different health systems and organisations, I am aware of the value and varied skills-sets that diverse teams can bring to the workforce. I am motivated to ensure that all doctors feel supported and invited to contribute to their training experience.

I currently lead the Reverse Mentoring (See TEF website) and the Conscious Decision-Making workshop (coming to Maxcourse soon) aimed at tackling Differential attainment within Yorkshire and Humber and I will enjoin all doctors to take advantage of these wonderful schemes.

I am keen to hear stories and suggestions from trainees on how we can level the playing field for all doctors irrespective of their background – please email on theresa.ugalahi@nhs.net

Zehra Naqvi - Equality and Diversity Lead

Hello all I am Zehra and the EDI Co-lead with Theresa. I am currently a GPST3 and will be going out of programme in August as the incoming leadership fellow in differential attainment. 

My key passions are ensuring workplace psychological safety especially for trainees from minoritised backgrounds and also looking at what ‘equity for all’ looks like in the current NHS/training framework. 

In my free time I am a voracious reader, I sing (not very well but my shower thinks that I slay every concert), I lift heavy and you’ll often find me in the garden trying not to shout at the slugs. (We are in our make peace with all creation era and rebranding garden foes into friends)  I could speak forever about the importance of Rewilding and the gut microbiome (not altogether unrelated topics). 

I am very keen to hear from you about how we can improve equity and access for trainees from all backgrounds. You’re also very welcome to contact me for plant advice/fermented food recipes and anything else that I could help with :D  Please feel free to email me zehranaqvi@nhs.net 

Sophina Mahmood - Employers Lead

Hello my name is Sophina. I am an Academic Clinical Fellow in Oral Surgery at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to support Yorkshire and the Humber trainees and work with the Executive Forum as Employers Lead. I aim to offer support with any employment related concerns and direct trainees to the appropriate avenues for further guidance. 

My interests lie in creating a positive work environment that fosters excellence for trainees, increasing collaboration between medical and dental specialties to explore how we can help each other grow and offering support to Academic Trainees. 

Away from work, I like reading, spending time outdoors and watching Harry Potter and The Office. 

Sindhu Pavuluri - Wider Forum Lead

Hi!

I'm Sindhu, an IMT3. Transitioning from a year in the TWF, I'm excited to continue my journey as the trainee wider forum lead.

My focus area is to ensure that every trainee feels heard and supported amidst the myriad changes in our environment, whether it's the evolving workforce or the NHS landscape. I'm here to listen, advocate, and ensure that your experiences, both the highs and lows, are acknowledged and addressed. You're not alone in this journey.

Beyond work, you'll find me immersed in books, hiking trails, or exploring new destinations.

Reach out anytime at sindhu.pavuluri@nhs.net.

Juanita Oriaku - Wellbeing & Support Lead

Hi there, I'm Juanita (pronounced ʰwɑˈni tɑ).

I am a General Practice Registrar currently on an Out of Programme Experience with NHS England WT&E (Yorkshire & Humber) Future Leaders Programme, where I serve as the Leadership Fellow for IMG-supported Return to Training (suppoRTT). I have a special interest in Urology, backed by an MCh in the field.

Outside of work, I’m a homebody at heart. When I’m not enjoying medical dramas or police procedurals, I love spending time with friends and family and traveling for a change of scenery.

I’m passionate about physical and mental wellness. With experience across multiple healthcare systems, I recognize the immense value diverse teams bring to the workforce, as well as the mental toll our work can sometimes take. I'm dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where all doctors feel seen, valued, and supported on their training journeys.

I would love to hear your stories, ideas, or suggestions on ways we can enhance trainee wellbeing and support for all backgrounds. Please feel free to reach out at adaeze.oriaku@nhs.net.

Janaky Nam - Communications & Engagement lead

Hi,

I’m Janaky, an Internal Medicine trainee in Y&H.

I’m originally from India and came to the UK in 2019 to pursue my post-graduation. I’m still finding my way through the NHS and the training system, which is why I’m especially excited to take on the role of Communication and Engagement Lead. I hope to make it easier for trainees across the region to connect and engage, and I’m passionate about building a supportive culture—particularly for IMGs—and working toward equitable outcomes for all trainees, whatever their backgrounds.

Outside of work, you’ll often find me in the kitchen cooking up a spicy curry, enjoying said curry, or sharing my cooking stories on Instagram (you're all welcome to be guinea pigs for my recipes)!

Instagram: @janaky_nam / Email: janaky.nam@nhs.net

Please feel free to reach out anytime for a chat, a rant, or a coffee!

Sarah Longwell - Less Than Full Time Lead

Hi, I’m Sarah, LTFT lead for the TEF. I am a Palliative Medicine Registrar in West Yorkshire working at 60% and this year am undertaking a Future Leaders Fellowship.

I grew up in Northern Ireland (an OG Derry girl) and moved to Newcastle for university. I graduated in 2013 and moved to Leeds for Foundation training and have stayed ever since. I live with my partner and 18-month-old daughter. I moved from working full time to LTFT on my return from maternity leave in 2023. I am passionate about ensuring equal opportunities for LTFT trainees and improving the system and support for those returning to work after extended periods of time off.

In my spare time I enjoy travelling, walking and splashing in puddles with my daughter.

I would love to hear from you on how you have found working or returning to work LTFT and suggestions of how we can improve things, please contact me at sarah.longwell@nhs.net.

Yamen Jabr - South Locality Lead

My name is Yamen Jabr, and I'm excited to be starting my journey with the TEF and yourselves as your South Locality Lead! I work in Sheffield as a registrar in rehabilitation medicine, having moved from the North West after core surgical training (CST) while additionally representing its CT2 cohort within the deanery and CST committee.

Being able to convey pressing issues faced by trainees across all levels to ensure a good quality of training and lifestyle is something I want to continue providing to you, and will work closely with the rest of the TEF to achieve our goals and support you where we can. Thank you very much for the opportunity and feel free to reach me by email at any time!

I also enjoy swimming, cycling and trying new food recipes, incl. Mediterranean cuisines.

Sanah Sajawal - West Locality Lead

I’m Sanah and at the moment I am working as a Future Leaders Fellow with Yorkshire and Humber Foundation School. By background I am an ST6 rheumatology trainee, and I have been in West Yorkshire since 2014.  

I am passionate about teaching and have been actively engaged in this from the outset of my undergraduate degree. Over the years, I have taught undergraduate medical students, physician associates, postgraduate doctors and trainees studying for PACES. Currently I am undertaking my PG Diploma in Medical Education with the aim of completing my Masters by 2023. 

I joined the trainee executive forum as I believe that it is important trainee concerns are heard and steps are taken to improve training experience for all trainees. I am keen to address issues related to working LTFT, taking time out of training, returning to training after a period of absence (long or short) and trainee wellbeing. I would also like to increase awareness of what HEE and the trainee forum do and believe by doing this we can improve training for all.

Eman Hassanin - West locality lead (deputised)

My name is Eman Hassanin. I’m a ST6 paediatric trainee at West Yorkshire. I’m from Egypt and I graduated from Alexandria University and worked at Alexandria Ministry of Health before Joining NHS. I am familiar with the NHS service and the difference between various schools as I have worked across three different deaneries. I’m a proactive person and have led multiple leadership projects. I have also represented trainees as a local rep and a school rep.

I want to improve the experience for trainees, and I want their voice to be heard, allowing them to become part of the decision making. 
I want to increase the awareness of the Trainee Executive Forum and the locality drop up sessions. I also believe in the importance of protective teaching. I’m interested in improving trainee experience through improving our regional teaching program.  

Outside of the NHS, I am a busy mother of two and I want to believe that I’m an excellent chef. I enjoy silly play with my kids, taking a stroll and catching up with friends and Family.

Please feel free to contact me at  eman.hassanin@nhs.net  
 

Chioma Maduka - East locality lead (deputised)

I am a CT3 Psychiatry Registrar with TEWV in North Yorkshire, started in February 2021, thus coming to an end of Core training and looking forward to Higher training. I trained abroad and relocated to UK in 2018. I have worked both as a Trauma & Orthopaedics Registrar and Emergency dept middle grade Registrar before I started training in Psychiatry.

I love interacting with people and making life better for other trainees. I am also the Scarborough Junior Doctors locality Representative for my Trust. In my spare time, I love fitness activities including mountain climbing, hiking and weighted HIIT.