Aster DM Healthcare launches sixth Global Nursing Award ahead of May 2027 ceremony
Applications for the 2027 edition are open in multiple languages through www.asterguardians.com until December 31, 2026.
UAE – Aster DM Healthcare has opened applications for the sixth edition of its Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, inviting registered nurses worldwide to compete for a USD 250,000 prize in recognition of their contributions to patient care, healthcare innovation and community health.
Established in 2021, the award recognises nurses whose work strengthens healthcare delivery, improves patient outcomes and addresses health challenges in their communities.
It also provides an international platform for nurses to share their experiences and highlight their contributions beyond routine clinical care.
Award categories and application process
Applicants can submit their experiences through case study questions covering five areas: Patient Care; Nursing Education; Social and Community Service in Healthcare and Public Health; Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Healthcare; and Nursing Leadership and Administration.
The application process allows registered nurses to select the areas that reflect their professional experience and demonstrate the impact of their work.
Applications for the 2027 edition are open in multiple languages through www.asterguardians.com until December 31, 2026.
The award has attracted growing international participation.
Its 2026 edition recorded more than 134,000 registrations from 214 countries and economies, reflecting its expanding reach across the global nursing workforce.
Ernst & Young LLP (EY) will independently manage the multi-stage evaluation process, with oversight from an international Grand Jury comprising healthcare leaders.
The assessment will identify 10 finalists, who will compete for the award at a global ceremony scheduled for May 2027, in line with International Nurses Day.
Recognising nursing contributions to healthcare
Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, said the award was established to recognise nurses not only for the care they provide but also for their contributions to healthcare innovation, system development and community wellbeing.
He noted that participation across the previous five editions had demonstrated the breadth of nurses’ contributions, many of which receive limited recognition despite their importance to healthcare delivery.
The sixth edition will continue to provide a platform for these professionals to share their work and gain international recognition.
Since its establishment, the award has recognised nurses from different countries and healthcare settings.
Kenyan nurse Anna Qabale Duba won the inaugural edition, held in Dubai in May 2022, followed by Margaret Helen Shepherd from the United Kingdom in 2023.
Maria Victoria Juan from the Philippines received the third edition award, while Naomi Ohene Oti from Ghana won the fourth edition in May 2025.
The fifth edition, held in Kochi, India, in 2026, recognised Dr. Agimol Pradeep, a senior transplant coordinator at King’s College Hospital and honorary senior lecturer at the University of Salford in the United Kingdom.
Her work addressing healthcare inequalities includes co-founding the Upahaar initiative, which has registered more than 10,000 stem cell donors.
The initiative comes amid increasing attention to nursing workforce capacity, professional development and the role of nurses in strengthening health systems.
Through its international reach and financial award, Aster DM Healthcare is positioning the programme as a platform for recognising nursing contributions across clinical practice, research, education and public health.
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