COVID-19 has caused havoc and upheaval in ways no-one could have foreseen. In our spring online Alumni Lecture Series, we welcome University of Reading graduates from diverse backgrounds and industries to share their experiences and expertise on how the global pandemic has changed their sectors.

The everyday pressures on the NHS and social care are real, and with COVID-19, have never been more challenging. Across the country, healthcare workers have worked tirelessly, putting their lives and those of their families, on the line. At times, our health systems were bogged down by staff shortages, inadequate equipment, a lack of PPE and testing limitations.

In this panel discussion, University of Reading Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, Parveen Yaqoob, will be joined by colleagues and alumni who have been working on the frontline during this pandemic. We will hear about the challenges they faced, the sacrifices they made and the impact the pandemic has had on the healthcare sector as well as on their lives.

Amid the doom and gloom, it's also important to recognise the huge, positive advances made towards addressing COVID-19, including the incredible efforts our health workforce have made and our panel will also share some of these heart-warming stories with us.

We are delighted to be joined by:

• Gurinder Singh (MPharm Pharmacy, 2012), Lecturer in Pharmacy Practise, University of Reading
• Dr James Cutlan (BA Economics, 2014), Medical Doctor, Royal Glamorgan Hospital
• Sadek Alam (Physician Associate programme, 2018), Physician Associate in Surgical Liaison, Royal Berkshire Hospital

Attendance free, but booking essential.