Hannah McLean, a doctor from the Royal Derby Hospital, has been nominated for two national awards.
Hannah, who is from Derby has been recognised for her work in a hospice and prisons in Africa.
She has been nominated for the Junior Doctor of the Year award at the British Medical Journal Group Improving Health Awards 2012 and the Karen Woo Award which recognises individuals who go beyond the call of duty.
Hannah took two years out from her work in Britain to run the Ugandan Children of the Nile hospice.
She also worked at the medical centre at the Ugandan Kampala Remand Prison and created a manual for nurses and carers who work in African prisons.
Hannah also set up activities in the prisons including sports and counselling for the inmates and the prison staff.
Hannah said: “It’s a bit strange to be nominated because I’m quite happy being behind the scenes.
“It’s a shock for me but it’s nice to be recognised. It’s also nice that the project, and what it’s achieved, to be acknowledged.
“I’m very passionate about the work we’ve been doing in Africa. A lot of people, and particularly the prisons, don’t have a voice and we are almost advocates for them.”
Hannah wanted to become a doctor so that she could work in Africa. She is the strategy and healthcare adviser for the African Prisons Project, which was founded by her husband, Alexander.
Hannah’s incredible work speaks for itself; during her time at the prison the number of inmates dying per year went from 200 to less than 10 and the number of widows supported at the hospice went from 75 to 15.
She said: “We just did a lot of basic things, particularly with the health centre, like setting up the ward, having beds and keeping it clean. It’s the small things which can make the difference.”