Agimol Pradeep’s Nursing Journey from Kerala to UK Earns Global Recognition 

For many nurses who leave Kerala to build careers abroad, the journey brings new healthcare systems, new responsibilities and opportunities to grow professionally. Agimol Pradeep’s story is one that has taken her from nursing in Kerala to caring for transplant patients in the UK, while also giving her a chance to speak up about an issue that can mean the difference between life and death: organ donation. Her work with patients and South Asian communities has now drawn international attention to the Malayali nurse. 

Agimol was named the winner of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026 at a ceremony in Kochi on September 12. She was selected from more than 134,000 registrations across 214 countries and economies, placing her among nurses recognised on a global platform for their contribution to healthcare. The award was presented in Kochi, bringing an important moment in her professional journey back to Kerala. 

Today, Agimol serves as a Senior Transplant Coordinator at King’s College Hospital in London and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford. Her experience in transplantation has given her a close understanding of the challenges faced by patients and families, while her academic role allows her to contribute to the development of future healthcare professionals. Her work has also taken her into areas where nursing, public awareness and community engagement intersect. 

One of her key areas of focus has been the gap in organ and stem-cell donation among South Asian communities in the UK. To help address this, she co-founded Upahaar, an initiative that encourages greater awareness and participation in organ, blood and stem-cell donation. The initiative has helped register more than 10,000 stem-cell donors and has sought to make conversations around donation more accessible within communities where cultural and social barriers can influence attitudes towards donation. 

This commitment to advocacy has earned recognition in the UK before her latest global honour. Agimol was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her contribution to organ and stem-cell donation awareness. Alongside her clinical and advocacy work, she has remained involved in nursing education and professional development, reflecting a career that combines direct patient care with efforts to create wider change in healthcare. 

The Aster Guardians award marks another significant chapter in that journey. For Malayali nurses working in the UK and other international healthcare systems, her achievement highlights how professional expertise can grow into broader leadership and community impact. From her beginnings in Kerala to her work in the UK, Agimol’s career has now earned recognition on an international stage. 

Sources: 

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2026/Sep/13/uk-malayali-wins-top-nursing-award

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260912257725/en/Aster-Guardians-Global-Nursing-Award-2026-Names-Agimol-Pradeep-From-United-Kingdom-Winner-of-USD-250000-Prize