Rekha Vijayshankar
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I like walking in the woods close to where i live, listening to music (classical flute, piano and Hindi film songs) and watching the sky (when it is not overcast)
What are your goals in this industry?
I like their drive and motivation to make a change, to be advocates for the voiceless, to help build more equity in an otherwise opaque and systemically racist and classist driven health and social care infrastructure.
What is your favourite hobby or activity?
Writing poems that soothe and hold hope in the midst of darkness.
More about me:
I am a senior public health and palliative care nurse, social justice advocate, and Queen’s Nurse, guided by the philosophy of shared humanity: “I am because you are.” My work is deeply influenced by my own experiences, and I have dedicated my career to supporting resource-poor, marginalised communities, helping them navigate palliative care and empowering them in end-of-life decisions. I encourage conversations about illness and grief, often using poetry and storytelling as a means to explore these experiences.
Over my career, I have worked across the NHS, social care, and charity sectors, including leading the 0-19 service during the Grenfell fire tragedy. Currently, I am the Deputy Head of Quality and Clinical Governance at Marie Curie in London and a Churchill Fellow in palliative care, with my contributions recognised through numerous awards. I hold Master’s degrees in Palliative Science, Economics, and Business Administration.