At ISQua, we are delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Galina Velikova, the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Health Assessment Lab/Medical Outcomes Trust John Ware and Alvin Tarlov Career Achievement Prize in Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). This distinguished honour recognises Dr Velikova's significant contributions to advancing the field of healthcare measurement and her tireless efforts to improve patient-centred care.
Dr Velikova, an esteemed Professor of Psychosocial and Medical Oncology at the University of Leeds, and a Consultant in Medical Oncology at St James’s Institute of Oncology, Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, has dedicated her career to revolutionising the way we assess healthcare outcomes. Dr Velikova has made significant contributions to the development of PROMs, led the adoption of PROMs for clinical research, and promoted the use of PROMs among oncology healthcare professionals to improve the quality of healthcare. Her work has significantly advanced the field of patient-centred care by applying PROMs in routine oncology practice to better support individual patients.
Upon receiving the award, Dr Velikova expressed her appreciation: "I am honoured to be the recipient of this Career Achievement award in a field I feel passionate about. I am humbled to join a distinguished list of previous recipients who are legends in the field of PROMs applications and from whom I learned a lot during my career. I am proud that I managed to combine my medical practice with clinical research into patient-centred care and contribute to the knowledge base, helping to move the field forward. I am grateful to my mentors for their wise guidance and support. I am indebted to my family (husband and children) for always being understanding and supportive. I dedicate this award to my late father, who encouraged me to 'Think big' from my career's early and difficult days.”
ISQua wholeheartedly congratulates Dr Velikova on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to celebrating her invaluable contributions during the awards ceremony in Istanbul.
Dr Velikova will present her work at the upcoming ISQua conference in Istanbul. On 26 September 2024, she will be presented with the Health Assessment Lab/Medical Outcomes Trust - John Ware and Alvin Tarlov Career Achievement Prize in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) during a special session from 08:45-09:00 EET.
Later that day, Dr Velikova will lead a session titled "Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in Daily Cancer Care: From Research to Practical Implementation" from 12:30-13:30 EET. The presentation will describe key research results from pragmatic clinical trials in the UK, showcasing improvements in care and patient well-being when PROMs are integrated into daily oncology practice. Subsequent implementation projects of this approach will be reviewed, focusing on the challenges of rolling out PROMs in routine care. Dr Velikova will highlight key lessons learned over 20 years from the perspectives of patients, healthcare professionals, and senior managers.
Further information on the Health Assessment Lab/Medical Outcomes Trust and their awards can be found here.