Josephine Elliott, a paediatrician and former scholar from the third cohort of The Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA), reflects on her career journey and the impact of the programme. She recounts her initial reluctance to apply for The HLA, despite encouragement from a peer, because she felt unqualified. However, she explains how the programme significantly boosted her confidence and inspired her to pursue an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) in paediatric genetics.

Josephine also describes her project as a board assistant for the European Junior Doctors Association, an experience that offered valuable exposure to international collaboration and leadership. She highlights the importance of communication, humility, and negotiation skills developed through the HLA, which continue to play a vital role in her current clinical and research work focusing on rare genetic conditions such as Wolfram syndrome.