RCP elections – councillors (x4)

Professor Javed Ahmed

MBBS FRCP

Consultant cardiologist, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

I am honoured to stand for election to the Council of the Royal College of Physicians of London. As a fellow of the college, consultant cardiologist at the Freeman Hospital and professor of cardiology, I have devoted my career to advancing clinical excellence, education, research and professional standards, closely aligned with the values and charitable purpose of the RCP.

I bring over three decades of experience in cardiovascular medicine, including specialist and interventional training in the United Kingdom and the United States. I completed my CCST in cardiology and general internal medicine in 1999 and subsequently undertook an ACGME approved fellowship in interventional cardiology at Washington Hospital Centre, Georgetown University, USA. Since 2000, I have served as a consultant cardiologist at a major regional cardiothoracic centre, delivering secondary and tertiary care while contributing to service development, quality assurance and governance within a complex NHS environment.

My clinical practice had included high-volume general and complex interventional cardiology, including leadership in invasive imaging, and advanced coronary intervention. Alongside clinical work, I have maintained a strong commitment to education and training. I am an MRCP examiner, educational supervisor, and course director of an established international educational programme focused on complex cardiovascular intervention, providing insight into the evolving needs of trainees, new consultants and SAS doctors.

These roles have given me a detailed understanding of the importance of robust, fair and forward-looking standards in education, assessment and revalidation, which represent core responsibilities of RCP Council. Academically, I hold a professorial appointment and have led and contributed to national and international research, including investigator-led multicentre trials, peer-reviewed publications, invited lectures and successful grant funding. I have actively supported the RCP’s international mission through teaching, collaboration and representation, recognising the college’s global influence in setting professional and clinical standards.

I have extensive experience working within complex governance structures and understand the importance of clear separation between professional leadership and charitable oversight. I recognise that while Council develops professional strategy and policy, the Board of Trustees holds ultimate legal responsibility for governance, finance and reputation under charity law. My work regularly involves committee and advisory roles where confidentiality, collective responsibility and transparent declaration of interests are essential to effective decision making. I fully accept the responsibilities set out in the RCP bye-laws and operating procedures, including regular attendance, adherence to the code of conduct, transparency in conflicts of interest, and safeguarding the college’s reputation.

I am particularly committed to strengthening engagement with fellows, members, trainees and SAS doctors, recognising that a diverse and inclusive professional community is central to the future of the RCP. I would support Council’s work in promoting excellence in education and training, supporting physicians during periods of system pressure, and ensuring that professional guidance remains relevant, credible and responsive to evolving healthcare needs. If elected, I would bring diligence, independence of thought, and a collaborative approach to Council deliberations. It would be a privilege to serve the Council.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

AHMED Javed: Declares no relevant interests.

Dr Georgina Allen

BM MRCGP FRCP FRCR MFSEM DCH DipSEM EDiMSK MScSEM

Consultant musculoskeletal interventional radiologist and physician, St Luke’s Radiology Oxford Ltd and University of Oxford

I am director of a CQC-registered musculoskeletal radiology and clinical practice in Oxford, providing both outsourced NHS and private services. My career spans general practice, sports and exercise medicine and radiology, allowing me to manage musculoskeletal conditions comprehensively—from clinical assessment and investigation through to imaging and image-guided intervention. I continue to see patients regularly and make diagnostic and treatment pathway decisions on a weekly basis.

I am radiation protection supervisor for our practice, which undertakes X-ray and cone-beam CT imaging and operates four MRI scanners. Maintaining high standards of governance, safety and quality assurance is central to my clinical and organisational work.

I was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in recognition of my contribution to medicine and to physician training, particularly in musculoskeletal ultrasound. I am a Gulf War veteran, having served as a physician and radiologist in the Royal Air Force, including responsibility for the general medical ward in Muharraq during the First Gulf War in 1990. This experience shaped my commitment to teamwork, service and calm leadership under pressure.

As an associate fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, I teach and advise undergraduate medical students in orthopaedics, general medicine and imaging. My academic work has focused on ankle sprain outcomes, shoulder pain, sarcopenia and Achilles and patellar tendon injection therapies. I was awarded an MSc in sports medicine by the University of Bath in 2014.

I have worked closely with industry partners, including General Electric, on the development of ultrasound technology. I served as chair of the ESSR Ultrasound Committee and contributed to the development of seven international guidelines. I was the only female member of the committee responsible for imaging at the London 2012 Olympic Games and have also worked with the imaging teams at the 2002 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.

In 2022–23, I was honoured to serve as the Royal College of Radiologists/BSSR travelling professor, teaching radiology registrars across the UK. I have delivered musculoskeletal ultrasound and intervention teaching worldwide, running more than 120 hands-on courses, including courses for the ESSR and the European Congress of Radiology, as well as multiple online MRI courses.

I have authored over 115 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and published a textbook on musculoskeletal guided intervention. My work has been recognised with Best MSK Scientific Paper Awards at the European Congress of Radiology in 2016 and 2019. I am an editor for two scientific journals and remain actively involved in education and training.

What I bring to RCP Council
I offer a broad, integrated perspective across clinical medicine, imaging, education and service delivery. My experience across NHS, private practice, academia and national organisations enables me to contribute pragmatically to Council discussions, with a strong focus on standards, training and patient-centred care. I am motivated to support the RCP in representing physicians working across increasingly interdisciplinary roles.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

ALLEN Georgina: Declares no relevant interests.

Professor Laith Al-Rubaiy

FRCP

Consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist, St Mark’s Hospital, London, UK
Honorary professor, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK

I am standing for Council to help strengthen the Royal College of Physicians as an inclusive, outward-looking and clinically grounded college that supports physicians throughout their careers while expanding its global impact.

I am a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist at St Mark’s Hospital and an honorary professor at Swansea University Medical School, with a career that spans NHS, academic medicine and international healthcare systems. My clinical and academic work—ranging from leading national audits to developing patient-reported outcome measures and contributing to UK and international guidelines—has reinforced my belief that the RCP is uniquely positioned to lead on quality, education, equity and professional standards.

Working both in the UK and overseas has shown me the wide variation in access to training, mentorship and professional development. This dual perspective informs my commitment to ensuring that the RCP supports physicians practically and effectively, whether they are early in their careers, internationally trained or navigating senior leadership roles.

Physicians across the UK continue to face immense pressures: workforce shortages, escalating clinical complexity, constrained resources and rising administrative demands. International colleagues similarly face challenges in accessing high-quality education and professional networks. If elected, I will work to ensure that the RCP responds to these realities with solutions that are clinically relevant, achievable and grounded in frontline experience.

Focusing on early-career doctors, SAS doctors and internationally trained colleagues, ensuring equity of opportunity and clear career pathways, my priorities on Council would be:

1. Strengthening education and training
2. Championing wellbeing, retention and career progression
3. Embedding quality improvement and research into everyday practice
4. Supporting meaningful global engagement

Promoting international partnerships based on mutual benefit, sustainable development and shared learning, rather than one-directional models. My experience as BSG Zonal Lead for the Middle East and North Africa has shown the transformative impact of such collaboration.

Above all, I view this role as one of service—to support physicians, promote excellence in care, and help shape a future-ready RCP. It would be a privilege to contribute to the college’s strategic direction and represent you on Council.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

AL-RUBAIY Laith: Declares no relevant interests.

Dr Mo Aye

MB BS FRCP

Consultant physician in endocrinology, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull

I currently work as a consultant physician in endocrinology in Hull. I qualified in Rangoon, Burma, and have spent the whole of my professional life working in the NHS.

I am standing for Council as someone who has worked on the frontline throughout, with a long-standing commitment to education and training. This matters because Council work is not abstract. Decisions and strategy need to make sense in real clinical settings, where demand is high, risk is real and time, space and staff are stretched. The perspective I bring is shaped by acute care, complex decision making and the practical discipline of keeping standards high when conditions are difficult.

Recent RCP work has shown how these pressures affect wellbeing, supervision and the quality of postgraduate training. In this setting, the advocacy role of the RCP is more crucial than ever. The college needs to be a united professional home that speaks up for patients and physicians while protecting and promoting education and training. Council helps the RCP deliver its core purpose by setting practical evidence-based standards, promoting safe care and effective training and representing physicians with credibility to government, system leaders and the public.

Alongside clinical work, I have held training leadership roles and worked with professional bodies, research and service management. That experience is useful on Council because it helps to test proposals against evidence and implementation, not only intent.

Doctors in training are working in a tougher and less professionally satisfying environment than many of us experienced a generation ago. Training must be high quality and fit for the modern NHS, so that future physicians gain the skills they need to meet patients’ changing needs. I will support the college’s work to promote excellence beyond formal training routes, embrace flexible training, tackle bottlenecks and rebuild team structures so doctors in training feel valued.

The RCP’s international role also matters. International fellows, members and international medical graduates are part of the college. Through working with and supporting international medical graduates, I have seen how much difference clear guidance, fair processes and practical support can make. The college should continue to strengthen its international links through programmes such as the Medical Training Initiative and through its wider education, courses and global partnerships.

In a turbulent and uncertain world, the RCP must remain a calm voice of reason: professional, evidence led and constructive. Council works best when it listens widely, builds consensus and acts with integrity. If you feel that this approach would represent you well, I would be grateful for your support in the ballot.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

AYE Mo: Declares no relevant interests.

Dr Somaditya Bandyopadhyay

MSc FRCP

Specialist in orthogeriatrics and Parkinson’s disease, East Surrey Hospital, Redhill

I qualified from Medical College, Calcutta. I came to the UK and passed the PLAB examination in 1997. I found my professional home in the NHS. I was drawn to geriatric medicine because of its intellectual challenge and its truly holistic approach to patient care. I completed an MSc in gerontology (King’s College, London) in 2018 and was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) of London in 2023. I am joint training programme director (TPD) for FY2 doctors in my trust. I have written a chapter on loneliness and depression in older adults for the online textbook ‘Medicine’ (Elsevier Inc).

Since January 2021, I have served as the specialist, associate specialist or specialty (SAS) lead for the British Geriatrics Society. In this role, I have significantly improved engagement with SAS doctors, particularly by supporting them through the CESR (now Portfolio Pathway) process and the Specialty Certificate Examination in geriatric medicine. 

I have been a member of the RCP SAS Committee since November 2021 and, for a few months in 2024, served as the interim SAS lead of the RCP. During this period, I co-authored Educational and career support for SAS doctors: guidance for doctors and employers, and my initiatives led to the publication of Educational and career support for locally employed doctors and IMGs. 

My primary aim will be to represent all doctors within the college, engaging constructively in policy development, committee work and elections to support high standards of physician-led and physician-delivered care. I value open, evidence-based discussion around scope of practice and workforce roles, with the shared aim of ensuring safe, effective and high-quality patient care.

SAS and locally employed doctors (LEDs) are the fastest-growing part of the medical workforce, and the General Medical Council predicts that SAS doctors will become the largest group on the Medical Register by 2030. International medical graduates form a substantial proportion of this workforce. Expanding SAS membership offers the RCP an opportunity to build a clear professional identity within the College. Strengthening specialty competencies through high-quality education, and addressing the training and supervisory needs of SAS doctors and LEDs alongside those of trainees, is essential for equity, development and retention.

The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded to regulate medical practice, curb malpractice by unqualified practitioners, and raise standards in medicine. While many of these responsibilities are now devolved, their consequences continue to evolve. As the college modernises, its success will depend on collaboration across its diverse membership to deliver a coherent, inclusive and forward-looking approach that reflects the voice of all doctors.

If elected to the RCP Council, I will bring the perspective of doctors across all career stages into policy, governance and educational decisions. I will represent trainees, locally employed doctors, SAS doctors and consultants, ensuring their contributions are fully recognised, valued and supported. In doing so, I will uphold the college’s founding principles while driving a modern, inclusive and strategically strong future for the RCP.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

BANDYOPADHYAY Somaditya: Declares that they:

• are a member of the British Geriatrics Society where they are the SAS lead, and the British Medical Association.

Dr Patrick Davey

DM FRCP

General physician, cardiologist and aeromedical examiner

I stand for election to RCP Council to make a difference at a time of profound crisis in UK medicine.
I believe we can deliver a world-class health service, staffed by doctors trained to the highest international standards. But we must be honest: the NHS has been failing for years. Key institutions that should provide leadership and protection for patients and doctors – including the GMC, NHS England and the Department of Health – have lost their way. Even our college has faced extraordinary headwinds.

Yet I remain optimistic. With a clear vision, strong leadership, a willingness to take responsibility, a unified college, we can take medicine to a better place.

For the RCP, I believe three priorities are decisive:

1. Education and training of resident doctors
2. Clinical performance/standards of care as experienced by patients
3. The quality of the workplace – physical and emotional – for all doctors

If we get these right, together we can deliver consistently high-quality care for patients. At present, all three are failing.

Resident doctors are too often treated as expendable labour rather than professionals in training. Training is routinely displaced by service delivery, cancelled at short notice, or inadequately resourced. Consultants are similarly stretched and demoralised. The result is an exhausted workforce, with increasing emigration, early retirement, and loss of talented clinicians from medicine altogether.

As a college, we must insist that training comes first. Training must form a substantial and protected part of resident doctors’ working weeks. Trusts must be required to deliver structured training, not merely promise it, and provide systems that minimise duplication and inefficiency so doctors’ time is spent delivering high-quality care, not firefighting broken processes.

Clinical performance also demands renewed professional leadership. We have allowed a dangerous ‘normalisation of deviance.’ Corridor care alone costs 16,000 lives a year – a tsunami of avoidable death – corroding public trust. We must not stay silent. The college should speak clearly, repeatedly and jointly with other colleges, and should not hesitate to challenge the command structures responsible. Delay costs lives.

The same is true of uncounted deaths on waiting lists, including cardiac procedures, where many thousands may have died unseen over decades. Insisting that system failures are measured and acknowledged brings problems into the open and leads to solutions.

Finally, we must demand high-quality workplaces. The NHS has no coherent, equitable mechanism to replace ageing hospitals. A planned, rolling programme of renewal – eg replacing hospitals every 50 years – is realistic and necessary. To deliver excellence in care, the RCP must have a strong, credible voice and be seen as a defender of professional standards. We have been silent for too long.

I have the experience to contribute effectively, having worked on the frontline for decades, served on committees locally and nationally, know when to be silent and when to be noisy, and can build alliances that deliver. Some may call this vision unrealistic. I disagree. If you know where you are going, and are prepared to lead, we can get there.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

DAVEY Patrick: Declares no relevant interests.

Dr Jacob Frederik de Wolff

FRCP

Consultant acute physician, Northwick Park Hospital, London

I qualified in the Netherlands, but moved to the UK almost immediately after qualifying. This gave me the full IMG experience: a clinical attachment, locally employed doctor roles, and finally RCP-approved senior house officer jobs in London and Milton Keynes. In 2007, while still trying to pass MRCP(UK) part 2 PACES, I was caught up in Modernising Medical Careers and became a CT2 in core medical training. Acute internal medicine higher specialist training followed, from 2008, on the North Thames rotation. I completed my training in 2013, and after a brief stint in Watford I started as a consultant acute physician at Northwick Park Hospital, in suburban north-west London. My clinical role covers the breadth of acute care, from same-day emergency care (SDEC) to the acute medical take, the acute medical unit (AMU) and our physician-run high dependency unit (HDU). I am closely involved in clinical governance, but education and training remain my passion.

As a third-year registrar I was elected to the Trainees Committee (now Resident Doctor Committee); this was the beginning of a long association with the RCP in various representative roles (TC/RDC, then New Consultants Committee, now joint regional adviser for NW London).

The Royal College of Physicians is changing, and I have experienced this change ‘from the inside’. Some of these changes were gradual, but the last few years have seen some significant upheaval. There are also some substantial challenges ahead, but also opportunities for improvement and collaboration. I have been particularly pleased with the work being done on health inequalities.

My ambition as an elected Council member is to consistently represent the interest of members and fellows of the college. While I have been an ‘insider’ to some extent, I can also see why colleagues might be disconnected from their college, and why they might be frustrated by the pace and direction of change. With the day-to-day clamour for our attention with polls and surveys, how can the college get proper engagement with the professionals that it represents? How can it support college tutors and other elected representatives to reach their communities of physicians? How can the college balance its institutional memory with the ever-present risk of groupthink? Does the financial position of the college pose a risk to what it can offer to its members?

Many thanks for trusting me with your vote.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

DE WOLFF Jacob Frederik: Declares that they:

• are a member of the Society for Acute Medicine and the Jewish Medical Association.

Dr Ian Gooding

FRCP

Consultant Physician & Gastroenterologist, Colchester General Hospital

I am a consultant with 18 years’ experience of work in a district general hospital. As a gastroenterologist with a special interest in ERCP and hepatobiliary medicine, I am familiar with the challenge of delivering the highest standard of care in a procedural subspecialty. As I also work at the front door of the hospital on the general medical rota, I am thoroughly acquainted with the contrasting pressures of the acute take. For the last 2 years, I have served as the divisional director for medicine in my hospital and I also know the frustrations that many of us encounter when attempting to deliver service improvement. My past experience also includes some years as an honorary senior lecturer and a term as an RCP regional representative.

I am as frustrated as any with the inadequacies of corridor care. For many members of the college, this will be one of the most pressing issues facing the NHS. The solution will be multifaceted, but the profession has a part to play in finding alternatives to keeping people in hospital. The college has been active in this field and must continue to promote solutions.

We must work with government to see better workforce planning in the future than we have seen in the past few decades. We need get the balance right between specialist and generalist skills and roles. Indeed, the Department of Health has challenged us to promote ‘left-shift’ and greater emphasis on physicians working in community settings. We must ensure that we are training and equipping our members and trainees for these roles.

Working in a hospital that has recently launched Epic (a US system), I can see the benefits of digitalisation as well as the challenges of the transition period. We are now at the threshold of an era of AI. We need to ensure that IT tools are built by clinicians and, in the UK, tailored to the needs of the NHS.

In addition, we face the challenges of rising obesity, health inequality and practising medicine in a more environmentally friendly way.

The future of our profession will depend on training, education, good workforce planning and the successful adoption of new technologies. The college must be at the forefront of delivery and leadership in all of these aspects. There is no other body that can advocate for clinical priorities at the highest levels of politics. The standing of our college must be enhanced and repaired from the traumas of the past 2 years. The role of councillor, a foot-soldier to support the president and vice-presidents in these endeavours, is one I am keen to play.  

Last year’s consultants’ survey found that 45% are enjoying their work less than the previous year. Together we must reverse that trend.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

GOODING Ian: Declares that they:

• are a member of the Conservative Party

Dr Mashkur Khan

MBBS FRCP

Consultant physician, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Medicine is at a crossroads at present. Corridor care has become a reality, and this is being currently normalised. This is affecting care and it is also affecting privacy and dignity. I have spoken out about this in my capacity as regional adviser for south London. I am also concerned about the bottleneck in medical training. There has been expansion of medical school posts which is welcomed, but this has not been matched by the resident jobs that are available. This is causing great frustration among the future generation of doctors and consultants. The government are always keen to speak to the Royal College rather than individual specialist societies and we can be more constructive and shine a mirror as to where things need to change. The college has gone through a lot of turmoil, but it is finally back on the right path, but there is still much work to do. I have had a long association with the college, having been an associate college tutor and then serving as the college tutor for many years at Epsom Hospital and then I have been elected as the regional adviser for south London. I have tried my upmost to be active and I have been on the Next Generation Oversight Committee and also at the Communications Reference Group. I sit on the Appointments Advisory Committee. I also take part in the shortlisting of fellowship applications. I have also been involved in the group for outpatients.

I believe in medical training and education and therefore I am an active examiner for the MRCP PACES examination. I am the host examiner for Epsom, and I also examine nationally and internationally. I have also been a member of the Pathfinder Group setting up a new centre in Bangladesh. I have received a plaque for my efforts for hosting the MRCP. I also sit on the Board for the London School of Medicine.

I have been twice elected section president of the gerontology section of the Royal Society of Medicine, and I have sat on the Academic Board in my capacity as section president. I have also been retained as member of the Central Dean’s Advisory Group. I currently serve as the treasurer of the Gerontology Council.

There are great battles ahead and many changes are afoot. I believe that if I can serve on the Council, I can be a part of the change and I look forward to working with the collegiate members and fellows effectively so that we can have a united and strong voice. There needs to be further re-thinking of how we can use our precious resources for delivering top-quality healthcare, which appears to be slipping at present. We need to offer better job satisfaction and make medicine attractive again. If elected, I hope to be your voice.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

KHAN Mashkur Hussain: Declares no relevant interests.

Dr Shruthi Konda

BSc MBBS FRCP PGCert (Education)

Consultant respiratory physician, Royal Brompton Hospital, London

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has a critical role in supporting doctors at a time of sustained pressure. Workforce shortages, changes to training, and the need to maintain high professional standards in an increasingly demanding healthcare system affect us all. I am standing for election to Council as I bring a unique perspective and practical experience that can help the RCP meet these challenges.

As a consultant respiratory physician working in central London, my clinical experience spans the full breadth of practice, from a district general hospital to a tertiary referral centre. I worked at the sharp end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have led complex, hard-fought service development projects. These experiences have reinforced the importance of strong leadership, effective advocacy, and a clear focus on patient care.

I currently serve as the RCP Linacre fellow, supporting college tutors and associate college tutors across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This builds on a long-standing commitment to postgraduate medical education, including roles as college tutor and training programme director. As an external assessor for the international internal medicine training programme with the Federation of Royal Colleges, and an MRCP PACES examiner, I have insight into the development of training and assessment pathways, and the pressures faced by both residents and their educators alike.

Alongside this, I bring extensive experience in quality assurance, committee work and policy development. I have been involved with my deanery and the RCP since the early stages of my training. More recently, I have held executive committee and lead roles in national and international specialist societies. These roles taught me the value of collaboration, of building durable networks, and of making sure quieter voices are heard alongside established ones. They have shaped my pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to governance and consensus-building.

As a current non-voting member of RCP Council, I already understand how the different parts of the college work together, and where they sometimes don’t. This means I can contribute to college and Council work immediately—something that matters in a system that is changing fast and is sometimes under strain.

The college has experienced a testing period in recent years. It has a proud history, but we must ensure it has a proud future too. It must belong to all of its members and fellows. It should reflect the full diversity of the medical workforce across career stages, specialties and regions.

If elected, I will work to ensure that the views of the membership are represented clearly, constructively and honestly. I will continue to champion education and training, and I will argue strongly for increased focus on workforce planning and long-term sustainability. In doing so, I want to help ensure that the RCP is a credible, relevant voice—for physicians, and for the patients we serve.

I would be grateful for your support.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruthi-konda-a576462b8/

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

KONDA Shruthi: Declares that they:

·       Are a member of the British Thoracic Society, the British Sleep Society and the British Medical Association. 

Dr Fraz Arif Mir

BSc MA MBBS FRCP

Consultant in acute and general internal medicine, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge

Associate dean, NHS East of England

Clinical sub-dean, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge

Affiliated associate professor and deputy proctor, University of Cambridge

Director of clinical studies and fellow of King’s College, University of Cambridge

I want to be an RCP councillor to bring about meaningful change. The role is also about representing the voice of the membership and ensuring that the Council’s actions are consistent with the principles of good governance and the core values of the college. This accountability is grounded in a commitment to transparency, inclusivity and ethical leadership that values challenge. Yet, unfortunately, recent history has proven this not to be the case. For example, the King’s Fund report, published in the aftermath of the physician associates debacle, identified a loss of trust among members because of ‘a range of collective failures in leadership across the college’ as well as ‘a clear lack of accountability and due process’. In response, an urgent review undertaken by the Good Governance Institute was commissioned. Its recommendations and final report were to be presented to the RCP Board by mid-September 2025. Many months down the line, the review’s outcomes are still to be shared with the wider fellowship and the delay has done little to restore faith in the college’s ability to put its own house in order.

More than ever before, an overhaul of governance, processes and strategy is required if we are to rebuild belief and confidence in the RCP and restore its stature as the respected voice for physicians. We must also refocus on our core mission to deliver the best possible patient care and excellence in education, training and innovation. Working collaboratively with stakeholders, the Council must spearhead and implement a bold programme of change to modernise the college and open it up to robust debate and scrutiny. Ultimately, the RCP needs to serve its UK and international membership better, empowering it to do more for patients. It also has to be much more cost-effective and responsive to its members’ aspirations and needs, whether they be residents at the beginning of their postgraduate training, or senior physicians beyond retirement age.  

I believe I have the experience, expertise and communication skills to be an effective and successful councillor, providing constructive challenge and representing RCP members of all backgrounds. I pride myself on being a person of principle and integrity who has the courage to speak truth to power and deals with issues fairly and objectively. A comprehensive strategy overhaul and improved governance processes, shaped by a representative Council, are pivotal if we are to safeguard not just the future of our profession and college but also the future and principles of the NHS as a public service. At the same time, we must also try to reconnect and re-engage with our disenfranchised membership and thereby unite physicians under the banner of the RCP once again.

If you agree with my statement, even in part, please honour me with your vote. I promise to represent you faithfully and to the best of my abilities if elected as a councillor. Finally, thank you for reading and for all that you do every day for hospitals and communities, wherever you may be.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

MIR Fraz Arif: Declares that they:

·       are a member of the Conservative and Unionist Party

Dr Ranjit Singh More

MB ChB, FRCP

Consultant cardiologist, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and co-cardiac lead for the Northwest Coast Clinical Network 

I am applying for the position of RCP councillor because I am deeply committed to enhancing professional standards and promoting high-quality patient care through education and advocacy.

The RCP had in recent years somewhat forgotten its core values, vision and strategic priorities, but is now starting to regain its focus. I am keen to contribute to the RCP’s ongoing work on shaping national health policy, improving standards of care and ensuring that the voice of clinicians and patients is represented in decision making. I feel my long experience of working in different institutions (academic, secondary and tertiary), promoting collaborative working and supporting strategic thinking will be helpful in the RCP Council’s work on policies on equity, transparency, excellence in healthcare provision and sustainability of medical careers. My experiences have taught me the value of supportive cultural and adequately invested training environments, the importance of listening to diverse perspectives and the positive impact of mentoring on trainees and newly qualified consultants.  

I see this role as an opportunity to give back to the profession that has shaped me and to ensure that the future of medicine remains compassionate, patient focused, resilient and supportive of its staff and evidence driven.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

MORE Ranjit Singh: Declares no relevant interests.

Dr Nanda Kishore Nalla

MBBS DTCD MMedSci (Med Ed) FRCP

Consultant physician, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham.

Co-training programme director (TPD) for acute internal medicine (East Midlands)

Medical appraiser, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham

I am a consultant in acute medicine with over 10 years of experience in clinical, educational and organisational leadership roles at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. During this time, I have improved the training and non-training programmes of resident doctors, led on changes to clinical area, supported colleagues and trainees in their endeavours by valuing their roles, acknowledging their contribution and supporting them through changes. All this experience and the capabilities I gained align with the role of elected councillor and helps me to bring the leadership experience, strategic insight and collaborative working to the RCP Council.

Throughout my career, I have taken on roles that require strategic oversight, workforce planning and service development with specific focus on experience and satisfaction of people involved, be it the staff, resident doctors or the patients.

As an associate director of medical education, I led a fast-paced evolving programme with no prior leadership with complex issues into a well-established programme supporting more than 200 locally employed doctors. This involved developing recruitment strategies, bespoke induction programme, creating opportunities for progression, exception reporting system to improve wellbeing, support and retention. These initiatives and future planning through the strategy document helped to develop a stable and integrated LED programme within the trust.

As co-TPD for acute medicine in East Midlands, I oversee training, its quality, placements, ARCP processes and participate in recruitment. I have led on the establishment of a regional FAMUS course with deanery funding to ensure equitable access to point-of-care ultrasound training, demonstrating my commitment to fairness and innovation in postgraduate education. My roles as educational supervisor and local induction lead further reflect my focus on developing future clinicians through structured supervision and support through formal induction.

My leadership roles extend beyond education. I improved the service and governance as a lead for a newly established hybrid ward under two specialties. This involved collaborative working with different specialty and team to implement significant changes to staffing, handover and pathways for patients. This has resulted in better staff satisfaction, operational flow, team and collaborative working. I have contributed to national standards and assessments as a member of the Acute Medicine SCE Board and as an MRCP PACES examiner and host. My role as a medical appraiser further reflects my engagement with professional regulation and oversight.

The duties of an elected councillor align well with my experience. I am used to working across organisational boundaries, preparing reports, contributing to panels, and engaging constructively in governance processes. I strongly support the principles of transparency and accountability that govern the RCP Council operations.

If elected, I hope to use my leadership and educational experience to strengthen the RCP’s commitment to high standards, inclusive training pathways and working in partnership with fellows and members. I am particularly passionate about supporting doctors on non-standard routes and to improve access to training opportunities. I would welcome the opportunity to serve the RCP, contribute actively to Council, and help shape the organisation’s strategic direction for the future.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

NALLA Nanda Kishore: Declares no relevant interests.

Professor Matthew (Matt) Phillips

MD FRCP

Consultant genitourinary physician, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

One of the most important things for me professionally is my identity as a physician. Without doubt, the changing health needs of our population will need physicians more than ever to be at the heart of care strategy, planning and delivery. The greatest vehicle for change will be the RCP as we both care for the present and also begin to explore the future through the lenses of advancing technologies, models of care and changing patient needs. I have in January 2026 completed my term as president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, which was an immense privilege and a vital opportunity to advocate for the patients my specialty serves by advocating for the specialty itself. I am keen to bring this expertise of influencing and advocating at this level with partners including local government, fellow colleges, the DHSC and the GMC to help support the work of Council as the decision-making body for RCP.

The next few years will brim with choices that will need to be made wisely and boldly. Choices about how we address sustainability, how we address emerging health issues such as antimicrobial resistance, geopolitical displacement and emerging infections. Choices about how we grasp the nettle to address wider determinants of ageing populations, poverty and inequities and all the things that as physicians we know are central to how we do our work and support our patients. The RCP is our greatest opportunity to do this in a coordinated, meaningful way that can affect change for the better.

Looking inwardly, college is going through significant change, perhaps most immediately with the membership as well as the fellowship voting in this election, creating an opportunity for a more inclusive and representative voice. There is a powerful and present mandate for college to reshape its workings and thoroughly modernise to represent all physicians. Our strength is in our diversity, and Council will be the important driving force in that reform.

My medical practice is in North Cumbria and mainly in Carlisle, in a DGH-style GUM clinic and that is important to me. Since qualifying as consultant, I have always worked in DGHs, and they are the home of the general physician; the mixed take; the OPD. They are the home of our medical registrars still working one of the most important overnight roles in the hospital, which has not changed enough. I am an educationalist and have roles supporting students from the universities and our newest doctors in the foundation programme. My hope is that to be on Council will be to be able to advocate from this grounding – connecting the reality of being a physician in a DGH with the decisions made in Council to support a stronger future for physicians, through the vehicle of the RCP, and therefore better future care for those we serve.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

PHILLIPS Matthew David: Declares that they:

·       are the immediate past president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (from 23 January 2026)

Dr Asif Qasim

MA PhD FRCP

Consultant interventional cardiologist, Croydon and King’s College Hospital

I am standing for election to RCP Council because I care deeply about the future of physician training, professional standards, and the role of the RCP promoting medical excellence in the UK and internationally.

The college has a unique responsibility: to educate and support physicians throughout their careers, to uphold excellence in medical practice, and to provide trusted leadership at a time of unprecedented challenges for our profession. I believe Council has a vital role in strengthening that mission through collaboration, transparency, and meaningful engagement with members and fellows.

I am an interventional cardiologist with over 30 years’ NHS experience, and founder of MedShr, a medical education platform with more than 2.5 million members globally. I am an NHS consultant active in medical education and digital innovation with leadership experience in healthcare, technology and the charitable sector. As a trustee of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, I have overseen a successful year of cultural events with a budget >£50m, delivering an estimated gross value add of £300m.

My motivation for standing for Council is to contribute practical experience, constructive engagement, and a strong commitment to education and professional development at a time when the pressures on doctors have never been greater.

Education and training

High-quality education remains the cornerstone of the RCP’s mission, and as medicine evolves, so too must the way we provide it. I am particularly keen to:

• Strengthen education for residents and locally employed doctors and CPD for consultants
• Ensure MRCP(UK) examinations and RCP education remain globally respected and financially sustainable
• Modernise digital education while preserving academic rigour and independence
• Support consultants, as well as resident and locally employed doctors, who are all dealing with relentless pressures within the NHS

Through my work in medical education, I have seen the power of well-designed, clinician-led learning to improve performance, decision making and patient care. The RCP should innovate and lead in this space.

Collaboration and engagement

A strong college depends on active, engaged members. Council plays a crucial role in ensuring that the views of the membership inform strategy, policy and priorities. I would support developing:

• Improved communication between RCP leaders and the membership
• Greater engagement with specialist societies and international members
• Constructive collaboration with other royal colleges, regulators and government

I am committed to listening to members, working with them and amplifying their voices, and this is essential for the RCP to remain relevant and trusted.

Supporting the RCP’s future

The RCP faces significant strategic challenges, including financial pressures, estate issues, and the evolving expectations of its membership. My experience in leadership, governance and innovation would allow me to contribute thoughtfully to these discussions and to ensure the RCP remains aligned with its membership.

Above all, I want to contribute to an RCP that is confident in its values, outward-looking in its partnerships, and firmly focused on advancing excellence in medicine.

It would be a privilege to serve on Council and to work collaboratively with colleagues to strengthen the college for current and future generations of physicians.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

QASIM Asif: Declares that they:

·       are a member of the British Medical Association and the Doctors Association UK.

Professor Hasan Tahir

FRCP

Consultant physician and rheumatologist, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

I am seeking election to the RCP Council because the profession faces critical challenges that demand active leadership from those engaged in frontline clinical practice, education and research. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated commitment to advancing medical excellence through innovation, rigorous education, and collaborative professional development, principles that align directly with the RCP's mission.

As a consultant physician and rheumatologist, I am widely recognised for pioneering innovative service delivery models that have transformed patient care and clinical outcomes. My clinical leadership is exemplified by the nationally recognised Axial SpA Service, which received the NASS Gold Standard Award and was identified by the British Society of Rheumatology as Emerging Best UK Practice, reducing average diagnostic delay to 5 years. I developed a cost-effective weekly virtual biologic MDT clinic that improves patient access and reduces treatment delays. I co-developed the MySpA Educational App, empowering patients as partners in their own health management. My dedication has been recognised through awards including BSR Best Practice Award, Barts Health Innovation Award, and RFL Oscars 2025 runner-up recognition for Outstanding Contribution to Research and Education. I have presented our service innovations at the All-Party Parliamentary Group, influencing healthcare policy at national level.

My involvement in medical education spans undergraduate through specialist training and international assessment. As medical secretary of the MRCP PACES Clinical Exam Board and member of the former PACES 23 steering group, I contributed to developing next generation assessment frameworks. I chair international MRCP PACES exams and serve as a personal tutor for UCL medical students, contributing to MB exams and admissions, lecturing BSc applied medical sciences students, and supervising projects. As former TPD for CMTs at Barts Health, I ensured training excellence across diverse cohorts. I have hosted triple cycles in three PACES diets annually, engaging with over 270 candidates preparing for high-stakes assessments. My experience has sharpened my understanding of how educational reform impacts the entire profession, from undergraduate admission through specialist certification.

My research credentials demonstrate sustained commitment to advancing evidence-based medicine. I have received two NIHR research recognition awards and promoted a research culture within my unit, participating in numerous multinational phase 3 & 4 national portfolio studies as chief investigator. As PI across multiple trials, I have recruited hundreds of patients and delivered outcomes benefiting the NHS. I have authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and regularly present at international meetings. I remain passionate about disseminating findings to advance our specialty.

I bring leadership experience navigating complexity and institutional change, with the ability to make principled decisions, maintain team cohesion, and uphold standards under pressure. I understand the importance of transparency, respect for diverse perspectives, and accountability essential for Council effectiveness.

I am committed to advancing professional standards through rigorous education and examination reform, supporting research and innovation in clinical practice, fostering inclusive leadership, and promoting excellence in patient care through evidence-based guidance.

I would be honoured to serve the RCP and its membership in advancing the professional standards and innovation that define excellent medicine.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

TAHIR Hasan: Declares no relevant interests.

Dr Muhammad Tariq

MRCP (UK), FACP (USA), FRCP (Edin), FRCP (London) FAIMER Fellow (Philadelphia), MHPE (Maastricht), FPSIM (Pak)

Vice dean, Medical College and professor of medicine

Aga Khan University, Karachi

I am honoured to submit my candidacy for election as a councillor of the Royal College of Physicians. I have more than 25 years of substantial experience as a faculty member in the quadruple domains of leadership/administration, education, clinical services and research. I am an RCP fellow in good standing and currently in medical practice, with a strong interest in CPD, medical education, and faculty development in health professions education.

Throughout my career, I have held several leadership roles, including director of internal medicine residency, director of postgraduate programs, section head of medicine, chair of postgraduate medical education committees, chair of the Department for Educational Development, and associate dean education and vice dean of the Medical College. Education has always been a central focus of my work. I have contributed to curriculum development, assessment reform, programme evaluation and faculty development across the undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate programmes. My research work focuses on feedback, assessment, communication skills, clinical teaching and programme evaluation, with multiple peer-reviewed publications and projects. 

I have been actively teaching in MHPE programme and have served as the course director of the programme evaluation course of the MHPE. I have restructured the internal medicine residency programme, which led to a statistically significant improvement in the exit examinations. I have played a lead role in creating a programme to enhance faculty skills in teaching, learning and assessment as medical educators. I have been involved in the development of national standards for medical schools as a member of the medical education committee of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

I played a lead role in establishing a partnership with UCAN (Umbrella Consortium Assessment Networks), the world’s largest network of examination supervisors, to enhance the quality of assessment at AKU Medical College and School of Nursing. I am a FAIMER fellow and have been serving as a global FAIMER faculty project adviser since 2017. One of my recent key accomplishments has been leading the establishment of AKU Karachi as a host for MRCP-PACES examinations. This initiative involved coordinating the factfinder mission to assess potential sites, developing a proposal for a PACES centre, conducting a mock pathfinder examination. This led to AKU Karachi conducted its first MRCP-PACES examination in August 2025. I am also International regional adviser of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. 

I also served as associate editor of the AKU Manual of Clinical Practice Guidelines and contributed to the GRADE Adolopment process – a method for developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and currently we are working on its dissemination with the Sindh government and other bodies to make these recommendations accessible to practitioners everywhere.

If elected, I would bring a systems-level, global perspective based on my experience. I aim to join the Council with a collaborative approach, valuing diverse ideas and dialogue. Moreover, I would be delighted to offer my time and expertise in support of the RCP Council’s work and acknowledge the level of commitment and participation that will be required of me.

Fellows standing for election are asked to complete a declaration of personal interests and good standing in line with RCP policy:

TARIQ Muhammad: Declares no relevant interests.