Award for brain injury work

Dr Jill Winegardner is to receive the Practitioner of the Year Award from the British Psychological Society's Professional Practice Board.

Six years ago Dr Winegardner came to Britain to work in the National Health Service as she was no longer able to do the kind of brain injury rehabilitation she wished in the USA. She was appointed lead clinical psychologist at the Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation in Ely, Cambridgeshire, where she still works.

Before coming to Britain Dr Winegardner founded and directed the Cleveland Metro Brain Injury Rehabilitation Programme in Ohio. After working there she moved to Nicaragua to help establish the field of neuropsychology in that country before moving to California to work in brain injury rehabilitation there. She still supports a rural health charity in Nicaragua.

Dr Winegardner said: 'I am delighted to accept this award. My work at the Oliver Zangwill Centre has taught me the value of working in a solid team, and I think this award reflects the integrity and creativity of my team, including our founder Professor Barbara Wilson, without whom this would not have been possible. I am grateful to my NHS Trust, Cambridgeshire Community Services, for supporting the holistic neuropsychological rehabilitation here that is not possible in the US. Although I miss the California coast, I was happy to trade it to work in a health system founded on principles of access and fairness to all.'

Professor Jamie Hacker Hughes, President of the British Psychological Society, commented: 'California's loss is our gain – and we're very happy to have Dr Winegardner with us and very grateful too for all her work at the Oliver Zangwill Centre. Many congratulations to her on this award.'