Every day, professionals across EMAS work to improve patient care, champion safety, and support colleagues.
Sometimes, their efforts are recognised not just locally, but on a much larger scale.
The Top 50 Most Influential Muslims in Europe awards highlight individuals whose work brings distinction to Muslim communities and enhances the reputation of Muslims across the continent.
Among those recognised in this year’s Top 50 is a member of our own team – someone whose leadership and commitment have made a real difference for patients and staff alike.
For Aiysha Raoof, Deputy Chief Pharmacist and Head of Medicines Optimisation, Governance and Medicines Safety Officer at EMAS, her award is more than a personal achievement.
Aiysha explains that her values – shaped by faith – are central to her approach as a leader, saying:
“Empathy, integrity, and a sense of purpose are at the heart of how I lead and serve.
“These principles guide my approach to governance, strategy, and safety, and help me promote safer, more equitable patient care and better environments for staff.”
Aiysha helps make sure medicines and essential medical supplies are safe and easy to access. By working closely with teams across EMAS, Aiysha supports high-quality care for patients and helps staff get the guidance and tools they need.
She has helped create a plan to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly, improved how medicines and equipment are managed together to keep patients safe – strengthening safeguards in urgent and emergency care, and supported digital projects that make learning and information sharing easier.
Her work also includes shaping national policy and clinical guidelines, working with organisations such as NHS England and the Royal Colleges (professional bodies in the UK that set standards, provide training, and support healthcare professionals).
Colleagues across EMAS and the wider NHS have responded with support and encouragement, with Aiysha saying it’s “been incredibly positive and humbling.”
Recognition at this level is not just about professional success – it’s about representation and inclusion.
Aiysha added: “Muslim leaders are an integral part of Europe’s societal fabric, actively contributing to policy development, healthcare, politics, education, and innovation as equals, rather than exceptions.
“I hope this helps normalise what already exists: that Muslims are fully embedded into public life, leading and serving across all sectors and always have been.
“Inclusion is not about tolerance; it’s about respect, shared purpose, and collective excellence.”
Aiysha hopes her experiences can inspire others to feel a sense of belonging. Her advice to young Muslim women aspiring to leadership roles is:
“Stay true to yourself, seek wisdom from your mentors and family, speak up when things are not right, and walk your unique path with unwavering confidence.
“Embrace your journey, for it is yours alone to define and illuminate.”
For Aiysha, the recognition is a chance to highlight the contributions of Muslim professionals across healthcare and public service, adding:
“Diversity is not separate from leadership. It drives stronger systems, fairer opportunities, and improved outcomes for the communities we serve.
“I strive by the motto ‘lift as you climb’, so I can only hope my journey allows me to open doors for others to also walk through.”
Rashid Sohail, Deputy Medical Director at EMAS said:
“It has been an immense pleasure of mine to see how Aiysha has contributed to EMAS and developed since being appointed.
“Her passion and drive to improve the quality of our services, and more importantly the care delivered to our patients, has been great to see.”