Multilingual student is selected as Student Midwife of the Year 2026 by the Royal College of Midwives

Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is celebrating the success of Glasgow-based student midwife Mira Waligóra, who has been named Student Midwife of the Year 2026 by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). Currently on her first rotation at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Mira has been praised by colleagues and patients for consistently going above and beyond to provide safe, compassionate care to her patients.

The RCM’s Student Midwife of the Year award recognises individuals who make an outstanding contribution to the profession and to the student midwifery community through initiative, leadership, activism and innovation. Mira has delivered on both.

Mira’s journey into midwifery was shaped by her background as a public service interpreter, supporting women across maternity, gynaecology and IVF services. Fluent in English, Polish, Finnish and French, she was often by the side of women at some of the most significant moments of their lives.

She says: “As an interpreter, I facilitated communication between women and midwives in a variety of settings including IVF, birth, terminations, home visits, scans and clinical debriefs. The role of the midwife always stood out to me. It was remarkable to see the connection midwives made with those they care for.

“After the Covid-19 lockdowns I wanted a career that offered security, purpose and variety. When I told my family I was applying to study midwifery, they weren’t surprised at all. They said it seemed like the natural next step.”

Mira has used her interpreting experience throughout her training and placements, advocating for clearer communication and improved support for women facing language barriers.

In her presentation to the awards panel, she showcased the ‘six Cs’ she believes are at the heart of modern midwifery: Communication, compassion, courage, consent, creativity and collaboration.

She explains that:

• Communication is essential for safety, dignity and trust.

• Compassion is “love in action”.

• Courage is needed to advocate for others.

• Consent requires genuine understanding - something that is jeopardised when language barriers are not addressed.

• Creativity encourages open-minded and imaginative problem-solving.

• Collaboration strengthens practice through shared learning.

Mira is widely recognised as a leader among her peers. As Vice-President of the Student Midwifery Society, she has championed mentoring, reflection and peer learning, creating supportive spaces where students feel valued and empowered. Through her involvement in the RCM Scotland Student Network, she has worked with universities across Scotland to share best practice and strengthen links between student communities.

She also identified a critical gap in training around interpreter-mediated care and took the initiative to develop a project addressing this with universities, NHS Education for Scotland, the Scottish Government and third-sector organisations. Her work has produced practical tools now used by student midwives and has influenced educational materials and curriculum design.

Her co-created resources have already had a lasting impact across maternity services, receiving excellent feedback from students, clinicians and senior policymakers.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Director of Midwifery, Mary Ross-Davie, adds: “Mira advocates for the high standard of care that we always aim to deliver across NHSGGC maternity and we’re delighted that she is in rotation as part of our service. She is an inspiring advocate for safe, equitable and compassionate maternity care.”

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