Inaugural Professor Margaret Rowe Award supports Deaf student creating inclusive change

The University of Salford’s inaugural Professor Margaret Rowe Award has been presented to Natalie (Nat) Mulley, the first Deaf student to complete the Adult Nursing course at the University.

Professor Margaret Rowe, former Dean of the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford, established the new award to recognise students who are making a real difference in their communities by creating meaningful, sustainable change, whether that’s within local neighbourhoods, national initiatives, or among their fellow students at the University of Salford. The award celebrates those who are not only passionate about health and social impact, but who also share their knowledge and experiences to inspire others.

In 2024, Nat won Learner of the Year at the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards, celebrating her outstanding contributions to patient care and education. In 2025, she was shortlisted for three prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards: Student Nurse of the Year (Adult), Mary Seacole Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion, and Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year.

She has used her voice to raise awareness of Deaf culture and the additional needs of deafened patients. Nat has worked with academic staff to integrate this into student nurse education and has delivered this teaching herself. She is now in talks with the University’s simulation team to incorporate training into clinical skills sessions within the nursing programme.

Nat first began actively advocating for patients with hearing loss during her Year 1 placement, taking opportunities to educate other student nurses as issues arose. Incidents where hearing aid battery loss led to restrictions in patients’ understanding and communication were overcome by Nat’s intervention. She ensured that hearing aid batteries were available in her placement areas and educated others on how to change them. Soon, not only students but also registered nurses were benefiting from this education.

Nat identified that although clinical guidelines recognise hearing aid care, it is often overlooked. She was invited by the Practice Education Facilitator (PEF) team to deliver a teaching session within hospitals, educating staff on how hearing aids function, the different types, and how to care for them. The session was fully subscribed and well attended.

Nat questioned why this wasn’t part of standard care and began writing a training programme. As part of this process, she has met with audiology and tissue viability teams to incorporate a mandatory training package for staff working in complex care and frailty wards, aiming to reduce the risks of skin shears and pressure ulcers caused by hearing aids.

Nat has worked to develop training videos and information for staff related to the needs of Deaf or hard-of-hearing patients. This includes access to audiology, training, booking British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, and CPD-accredited sign language courses.

On receiving the prize, Nat said: “I’m so pleased to have been chosen for the inaugural Professor Margaret Rowe Award. It goes to show how important hard of hearing and Deaf care is, and that our University wants to be at the forefront of teaching students to deliver high quality care in situations where there are barriers to communication.”

Professor Margaret Rowe said: “I was extremely fortunate in my career to have worked with great colleagues and students who make a real difference in society. This award is to thank students who do amazing things for their community and demonstrate the values we hold at the University of Salford.”

During her time at the University of Salford, Professor Margaret Rowe was widely respected for her leadership on both national and international stages. She played a key role in shaping healthcare education policy, serving as the national higher education representative on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Revalidation Strategic Steering Group and contributing to several influential boards across Greater Manchester.

Under her leadership, the University’s School of Health and Society saw a 10% increase in undergraduate numbers, alongside improvements in student satisfaction and employability. Margaret also helped grow research and enterprise partnerships, while strengthening global ties through international collaborations in countries such as China, India, Malaysia and Egypt.

The award, which includes a £400 prize, is designed to support and spotlight initiatives that deliver real-world benefits and have the potential to grow. A key part of the award is the expectation that recipients will share their learning with others, helping to build a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement across the University.