Alizha Waheed is a first for CHFT - our first Physician Associate.

(Her other claim to fame is she's met Bobby Charlton, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville in a previous role as Under 16s player for Man Utd. See the end!)

Physician Associate (PA) is a new healthcare profession for the NHS. A PA works to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment under the supervision of a doctor. They are trained to perform a number of roles including: taking medical histories, performing examinations, analysing test results, and diagnosing illnesses under the direct supervision of a doctor. Dr Sarah Hoye is the lead doc for the role at our Trust.

In 2014 there were only about 115 PAs working across NHS England, but there are now more than 25 universities running the two-year postgraduate PA course (including Leeds University) and it is becoming an ever-expanding role.

Over the summer we are hoping to recruit PAs in medicine, paediatrics and obstetrics/gynaecology.

Here's more about Alizha in the latest of our Hello My Name Is..... series!

Hello my name is… 

Alizha Waheed

What is your position?

I am a physician associate

Tell us about your career background?
Prior to studying to become a physician associate, I studied Biomedical Science as my undergraduate degree.

What are the best bits about your job?
The best part of my job has been working as a new dynamic team member, providing holistic care to patients and also supporting the team to bridge the gap between nursing and medicine.

What is the highlight of your career so far?

The support from the team I have been working with has been really positive.

Sum up your role in three words?

Dynamic, ground-breaking and holistic.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Whilst growing up I wanted to a teacher.

Who is your hero/heroine and why?
Mohammed Ali was one of my heroes, not for his work inside the ring, but his work outside it -  creating a united and equal community.

When you are not at work how do you relax?
I like to read and hike.

What is your favourite place?

My favourite place is in Littleborough, a dam that overlooks two valleys.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I have a poem published! Also, I used to play football for under 16s Manchester United girls' team. They were really wonderful days as I have three younger brothers who were the reason I played football and I enjoyed playing with them. I was always very competitive in sports so I thoroughly enjoyed it. I trained the majority of the time over summer. I gave it up due to school demands.

"I met Sir Bobby Charlton  and some of the footballers at that time. Paul Scholes and Gary Neville are the ones I recall. "