ARC East Midlands Fellow named 'Midwife of the Year' at national awards

Dalvir Kandola, Consultant Midwife – Lead for Inclusivity at University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL), was recognised for her outstanding leadership in reducing inequalities and promoting equity in maternity care. 

The judges praised her innovative initiatives including multilingual tools, equitable data capture and community engagement projects.

While midwifery remains underrepresented in research, Dalvir’s success demonstrates the importance of supporting midwives to lead research that directly improves care, outcomes, and equity. 

Her national recognition highlights both the calibre of talent nurtured through the programme and the real-world impact these fellowships can achieve.

Speaking about her achievements, Dalvir said: “Our profession thrives when all voices are heard, and I am proud that the work around inclusion in perinatal services at UHL has been recognised nationally."  

Dr Emma Rowley, Knowledge Mobilisation and Academic Career Development Lead at NIHR ARC East Midlands, said: “Congratulations on this recognition of outstanding achievement. We are proud to support the next stage in Dalvir's career development.” 

ARC East Midlands awarded nine pre-application support fellowships in 2025 to help early-career researchers take the next step in their careers.

Dalvir’s NIHR doctoral application focuses on improving maternity care for people living in the most deprived areas of England, addressing inequalities in access and outcomes.

The Nursing Times Awards, held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London on October 22, 2025, recognise excellence and innovation in nursing and midwifery across the UK.

To view the full list of 2025 winners, visit:
https://awards.nursingtimes.net/NTAW2025/en/page/2025-winners