2026 Sue Britton Bursary Award Recipient Narvand Maarij
A student at Warwick Medical School has been awarded the 2026 Sue Britton Bursary Award, recognising exceptional determination, resilience and commitment to helping others in the face of significant personal challenges.
Sue Britton was a double-lung transplantee who passed away in 2020. She worked in occupational health for many years and was widely admired for her positivity, courage and compassion. The bursary award is made annually in Sue’s name by Occupational Health Assessment Ltd to a medical student who has shown outstanding perseverance through difficult circumstances.
This year’s recipient is Ms Narvand Maarij, a final year graduate-entry medical student at Warwick Medical School. She was selected by Sue’s family following an exceptionally strong field of applicants from across the UK.
Originally arriving in the UK as a refugee from Afghanistan, Narvand has overcome considerable barriers on her journey into medicine. Despite financial hardship throughout her education, she achieved a First Class Honours degree in Biomedical Science before securing a place at medical school.
Alongside the demands of studying medicine, she has continued working part-time in healthcare and hospitality roles to support herself financially. As well as continued studies and work commitments, Narvand also volunteers with The Phoenix Project, helping refugee doctors prepare for their Occupational English Test and medical examinations, so they can practise medicine in the UK.
Her application demonstrated not only academic excellence, but also a deep commitment to supporting others and giving back to her community. During medical school, she has undertaken research work currently being prepared for publication with the European Society of Cardiology and has achieved consistently strong academic results throughout her course. She is also on track to graduate with Honours.
Speaking about receiving the award, Narvand said “I may not have had the same financial support as many of my peers, but it has never stopped me from chasing my dreams. This bursary will make a massive difference to me during my final year of medical school.” She continued ”the experiences I have faced throughout my life have shaped the kind of doctor I want to become. I am passionate about helping people, reducing suffering and making a positive difference wherever I can.”
Sue’s family said the decision had once again been incredibly difficult due to the high calibre of applications received this year. They added “What stood out most was Narvand’s determination to succeed despite significant adversity, alongside her commitment to helping others. Her compassion, ambition and resilience made her an extremely deserving recipient of the award.”
Occupational Health Assessment Ltd Managing Director Magnus Kauders said “We are incredibly proud to continue supporting aspiring doctors through the Sue Britton Bursary. Narvand is an inspiring individual whose determination, humility and commitment to helping others really reflects the values Sue embodied throughout her life.”
He added “Medical school can be financially and emotionally demanding, particularly for students facing additional challenges outside of university. Supporting talented future healthcare professionals through this bursary is something that means a great deal to us and to Sue’s family.”
Due to the continued success of the Sue Britton Bursary and the exceptional standard of applications received each year, Occupational Health Assessment Ltd has also announced that the bursary funding will be doubled for the next round of applicants. The increased award aims to provide even greater support to medical students facing financial and personal challenges while pursuing a career in healthcare.
“Every year we read stories of remarkable resilience and determination from medical students across the country. Increasing the bursary funding felt like the right thing to do. We hope it will provide meaningful support to future applicants and help talented students continue pursuing careers in medicine, regardless of the obstacles they may face.”
About Occupational Health Assessment Ltd
Occupational Health Assessment Ltd are a nationwide occupational health provider. We provide rapid access to expert occupational health support for businesses right across the United Kingdom. Appointments are available nationwide within two days.
With a unique occupational health assessment service, night worker health assessments, fitness certifications and access to clinics in Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester,
Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke, Surrey and more, the business provides high quality, expert medical advice.
Please contact us for further information or assistance.