NSLHD Allied Health finalists in 2026 Excellence Awards Three Northern Sydney Local Health District allied health clinicians have been named finalists in the 2026 NSW Health Excellence in Allied Health Awards across three categories. Meegan Shepherd, a radiation therapist at Royal North Shore Hospital, is a finalist for Allied Health Researcher of the Year. She is a clinician-researcher specialising in gastrointestinal cancers, adaptive radiotherapy and AI-enabled technologies. Meegan leads multiple clinical trials, translating research into practice to improve patient outcomes. Taiyo Orino, an allied health assistant in the Occupational Therapy team at Ryde Hospital, is a finalist for Allied Health Assistant/Technician/Support Person of the Year. Based at Graythwaite Rehabilitation Centre, Taiyo contributes to stroke research trials, drives quality improvement initiatives, and applies advanced data analysis to support patient-centred care and multidisciplinary collaboration. Jessica Bui, an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at Royal North Shore Hospital, is a finalist for Allied Health Professional of the Year. She leads initiatives to optimise medication use and improve patient outcomes, working closely with infection prevention, infectious diseases and clinical teams to embed evidence-based stewardship practices. NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri outlined the significance of the achievement. “I’m extremely proud that our team members are finalists in these prestigious awards,” he said. Executive Director Allied Health Julia Capper also acknowledged the recognition. “We are incredibly proud of the outstanding contributions they have each made to Allied Health practice,” she said. There are 35 finalists across seven award categories this year, with winners to be announced on 26 March.
Taiyo Orino
Meegan Shepherd
Jessica Bui
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 19| 4 OCTOBER 2024 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 2| 13 FEBRUARY 2026
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