We are getting some nice coverage about the Stelios Award. First to cover is the The Deaf Blog, a blog about the achievements of people with hearing difficulties.
Hard-of-hearing businessman shortlisted for Stelios Entrepreneur Award
Mohammad Al Ubaydli from Cambridge hasn’t let his hearing impairment stop him from running a successful IT business in the health sector and being nominated for the Stelios Award for Disabled Entreprenuers.
Mohammad, 33 became hard-of-hearing following a genetic immune deficiency. He started Patients Know Best, a company that specialises in a medical software package so patients with long term illnesses can contact health professionals directly and take control of their healthcare.
The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs is run by Leonard Cheshire Disability and sponsored by easyGroup Chairman Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. The winner chosen by the judges will receive the £50,000 prize at the Growing Business Awards, to be held in London on 26 November 2009.
Mohammad started Patients Know Best to help himself and ten million other patients with long-term illnesses in the UK. The company allows users to conduct consultations online instead of in-person, with Mohammad communicating with all of his clinicians securely through his work computer.
He says, “Our vision is for a publicly traded company serving ten million patients in the UK, Middle East and USA. By operating in these markets, starting with the UK, we aim to transform the provision of care for patients with long term diseases by giving patients more control. Winning this award would also show that it’s people’s ability – what you can do – and not the disability that matters.”
Sir Stelios said: “I am passionate about encouraging entrepreneurship and working with Leonard Cheshire Disability to set up this award plays a big part in this.
“I would like to congratulate Mohammad for reaching the shortlist of this year’s award, it is not an easy task to be nominated because there was stiff competition.
Sophie Down, Corporate Partnerships Officer, Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: “To be shortlisted Mohammad had to prove that he is dynamic, driven and that his business is destined to be a success.
“Our partnership with Sir Stelios is helping the charity highlight the barriers disabled people face in the workplace and recognise the outstanding achievement of disabled entrepreneurs.”