Kashmir-born psychiatrist honoured with ‘Mental Health Professional of the Year’ award in UK

Dr Shora moved to the United Kingdom in 2002 and achieved membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2005. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to mental health services, education, training and research, she was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2023.

Known as a compassionate clinician and an inclusive leader, Dr Shora is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. She currently serves as the National Equity Champion of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and is an executive member of the College’s Old Age Faculty. In these roles, she has worked tirelessly to improve patient care, safety and service quality, ensuring better outcomes for people from all social and cultural backgrounds.

Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Dr Shora remains deeply connected to her roots. She is the General Secretary of the British Kashmiri Medical Association and has played a key role in organising educational conferences and community events that bring together the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK. She also actively supports charitable initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in underprivileged communities.

Dr Shora attributes her success to the encouragement and unconditional love of her parents, the unwavering support of her husband, the guidance of her mentors and colleagues, and the support of her family and close friends in both the UK and Kashmir. She has expressed profound gratitude for what she describes as the blessings of Almighty Allah throughout her journey.

She dedicated the award to her sister-in-law, Sasha Bhat, acknowledging her as a champion of mental health who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and improve access to services for ethnic minority communities in the north of England.

Dr Shora’s achievement has been widely hailed as a moment of pride for Kashmir and for the global Kashmiri medical community, highlighting the impact of dedication, service and leadership in advancing mental healthcare worldwide.