Interim Chair is short-listed for prestigious national Ethnicity Award for his public service and campaign work
NHS Birmingham and Solihull’s Interim Chair has been nominated for a national award for his dedication to reduce inequalities in health care for those from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds and his work to establish Windrush Day to honour the Windrush generation’s contributions to Britain’s post-Second World War economy and NHS workforce.
Professor Patrick Vernon OBE has been nominated for a ‘Public Service Campaigner’ award in the Ethnicity Awards, which recognises those who work tirelessly – within the public eye, in politics and in the workplace - to make a positive impact on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Others to have been included in the category include British media entrepreneur and politician Waheed Alli, co-producer of the TV Series ‘Survivor’, and prominent MP Diane Abbott.
Of the nomination, Professor Vernon said: “It’s such an honour to have been nominated for this award. I care deeply and passionately about tackling health inequalities and ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, are able to have the best quality of life and opportunities to allow them the best life chances.”
Professor Vernon received an OBE in 2012 for his work tackling health inequalities in ethnic minority communities, and in 2019 he was awarded a lifetime achievement award for campaigning and advocacy work by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
He is a former Non-Executive Director for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Healthwatch England. In 2020, Professor Vernon established the Majonzi Fund, which is provided grants to families and community organisations to hold commemoration events for individuals from Black and racialised communities who died from COVID-19 during the pandemic. Alongside his work for NHS Birmingham and Solihull, Professor Vernon also chairs the Walsall Together Partnership Board working to create happier partnership working in the locality.
In August 2021, he was appointed by Wolverhampton University as Honorary Professor of Cultural Heritage and Community Leadership for the Department of Community Development, while in 2020 he was selected by British Vogue as one of Britain’s top 20 campaigners and was included in the 2020 power list of 100 influential Black People in Britain. Also, in 2020 he co-authored 100 Great Black Britons, while he is a sought-after broadcaster, public speaker and writes blogs and articles for national and international media on healthcare, cultural heritage and race.