Dr Naeem Aziz

SAS lead

Dr Theresa Barnes

RCP outpatients clinical lead

Dr Adam De Belder

Medical director, invited reviews

Dr Adam de Belder is the current medical director (MD) of invited reviews at the RCP.

A clinical chair in cardiology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, he has pursued a career as a cardiac and valve interventionist and was part of a team that set up adult cardiological services based in Brighton in 1999. His experience in developing advanced cardiac audit programmes led to his appointments as chair of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) and vice president of the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) for clinical quality and standards. He was appointed deputy MD of RCP invited reviews in 2019 and MD in 2021.

Dr Celia Bielawski

Clinical lead for assessments

Dr Celia Bielawski trained at Kings College Hospital Medical School and works as a consultant geriatrician and physician at Whittington Hospital.

At Whittington she has held various education roles, including undergraduate sub dean, Foundation Training Programme director and director of Postgraduate Medical Education. 

Dr Ben Chadwick

Deputy registrar

Dr Chadwick is a consultant physician in Acute Medicine at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, and was appointed to the role in 2008.

A fellow of the RCP since 2015, Ben completed his undergraduate training at Southampton University before becoming one of the first registrars to train in Acute Medicine in the Wessex Deanery in 2004. Ben is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton, where he works as the Programme Lead for the graduate entry medicine course (BM4). In addition to his role with undergraduate medical education, Ben has always had a keen interest in postgraduate medical education. He acted as the Training Programme Director for Acute Internal Medicine (AIM) in Wessex Deanery from 2009 to 2018, and chaired the Specialist Advisory Committee for AIM from 2016 to 2022. During this time he was responsible for the development of the 2022 AIM curriculum, including introducing point of care ultrasound as core part of the curriculum, with time for this protected for training.

Since demitting as the chair of the AIM SAC in 2022 Ben has taken up the role of the RCP college tutor in Southampton responsible for ST4+ trainees. In this role he has developed well received regional training days in General Internal Medicine, and also simulation training within the Trust. Since 2023 Ben has also acted as the joint Regional Advisor for the Wessex region.

Ben was elected as one of two England Regional Advisor representatives to the RCP council, and has been a member of the Council since January 2024. In this role he has been involved in producing guidance on supervision and employment of Physician Associates in the medical specialties.

Dr Andrew Duncombe

Editor-in-chief, Future Healthcare Journal

Following undergraduate and postgraduate training in Oxford and London, Dr Andrew Duncombe has been an NHS consultant and honorary senior clinical lecturer in haematology specialising in blood cancers in Southampton since 1994.

As lead consultant in clinical haematology at University Hospital Southampton from 1995 to 2001, he led the successful bid for Southampton to be the Wessex Regional centre for blood and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). His clinical experience spans 12 different hospitals, including in Australasia.

He is a keen educator and has taught physicians, GPs, allied health professionals and patients. Andrew has been an investigator in more than 40 clinical trials and has championed their value in improving patient choices and outcomes.  He has co-authored national guidelines with National Cancer Research Institute subgroups and the UK COVID-19 Therapeutics Advisory Group. Andrew’s continuing research interests include the epidemiology of blood cancers and clinical response prediction in severe COVID.

He is excited by the diverse range of new diagnostic and therapeutic options that will transform future healthcare and passionate about expanding access to health improvements for all. Recently he has left his main clinical practice to concentrate on this academic work.

Professor Anton Emmanuel

Medical director of publishing and Editor-in-chief, Commentary

Anton Emmanuel is a professor in neuro-gastroenterology at University College London and consultant gastroenterologist at University College Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (Queen Square). His research includes gut neurophysiology and the study of the aetiology and management of functional gastrointestinal disorders of the upper and lower gut. 

Anton led NHS England's Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) programme and joined the NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership in 2023 to lead on the implementation of the WRES in Wales. Professor Emmanuel has also recently held the role of interim director of equality diversity and inclusion (EDI) at NHS England.

Anton is editor-in-chief of Commentary and medical director of publishing at the Royal College of Physicians.

Dr Anne Kinderlerer

Digital health clinical lead

Dr Shruthi Konda

RCP Linacre fellow

Dr Shruthi Konda is the RCP’s Linacre fellow, a role focused on the development and leadership of the RCP’s network of college tutors and associate college tutors.

She is responsible for linking their work to that of other regional roles, the RCP’s Trainees Committee and New Consultants Committee representatives, and advocates and champions college tutors’ work within the wider medical workforce.

Shruthi is a consultant respiratory physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital. She graduated from Imperial College London in 2007 and continued with her postgraduate training in respiratory and general medicine at Imperial College, St George’s and the Royal Brompton hospitals. She also has a bachelor’s degree with honours in management and medical sciences from Imperial College Business School, and a postgraduate certificate in medical education.

Alongside her role as a consultant physician, Shruthi is an MRCP PACES examiner and has hosted examinations herself on behalf of the RCP. A dedicated educator, she has worked as foundation training programme director and as an RCP tutor, overseeing around 130 postgraduate medical trainees at a time.

Shruthi is committed to getting the foundations of training right, so that we can produce competent, engaged and enthusiastic doctors who can meet the challenges of tomorrow. Dr Konda is also passionate about issues surrounding diversity and inclusion.

Sam Mauger

Patient and Carer Network (PCN) chair

Sam Mauger is the Patient and Carer Network (PCN) chair on the RCP’s strategic priorities of improving, influencing and educating.

She is currently chief executive of the Third Age Trust and has worked for over 20 years in health and wellbeing, giving a voice to under-represented groups. 

Sam is also chair of the London Age Friendly Forum and has previously chaired a range of other entities, such as Healthwatch City of London and the London Voluntary Sector Forum.

In her new role as chair of the PCN, Sam will steer the group and set its strategic direction, working across the organisation to promote a meaningful approach to involving patients in a wide range of activities.

Find out more about the RCP's Patient and Carer Network.

Dr Rasha Mukhtar

Senior examiner (PACES)

Rasha Mukhtar is a consultant endocrinologist at Frimley Park Hospital who completed her medical degree at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, and moved to England once she completed her pre-registration postings to pursue a medical career in the UK. Her specialist training was based within the Severn Deanery, with time taken out for research leading to an MD from the University of Bath. Her specialist interest is in type 1 diabetes, diabetes-related technology and antenatal care and she has expanded these services during her time in post. In addition to direct clinical work, Rasha is involved in diabetes related research projects and has been the PI for several multi-centre national and international trials.

She is a keen educator involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate training. She was an Associate Clinical Lecturer for Newcastle University and is now involved with the new medical school at Brunel University where she is involved in the development and delivery of the endocrine curriculum. She is involved in junior doctor training initially as the Foundation year 2 programme director and more recently as a Clinical Tutor at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey.

Dr Sunil Nedungayil

FFFAP senior clinical lead

Professor John Newton

Garden fellow

Professor John Newton is garden fellow for RCP.

Dr Emma-Kate Reed

Deputy medical director, invited reviews

Emma-Kate is a consultant geriatrician at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) NHS Foundation Trust. She trained in Bristol and completed her specialist training in the Severn Deanery. She is a deputy medical director at UHBW, and her current portfolio includes urgent and emergency care. She has held previous senior leadership roles within the trust including clinical chair for the Division of Medicine. She has an interest in patient safety and medical education and has previously been one of the trust Foundation Programme directors. 

She was appointed as a deputy medical director for RCP Invited Reviews in June 2023.

Professor Matt Rutter

JAG chair

Matt Rutter is professor of gastroenterology at Newcastle University and the University Hospital of North Tees. He specialises in advanced diagnostic colonoscopy, polypectomy, colorectal cancer screening and surveillance. He sits on the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme advisory committee. He is founder and ex-chair of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Quality Improvement in Endoscopy committee, founded the UK’s National Endoscopy Database and chairs the UK’s Joint Advisory Group for GI Endoscopy committee and World Endoscopy Organisation interval cancer subcommittee.

He has published and lectured worldwide on quality in endoscopy, screening and colonoscopic surveillance, receiving the British Society of Gastroenterology Hopkins Endoscopy Prize in 2006 and 2020 and the Royal College of Physicians Goulstonian Lectureship in 2008. He co-authored BSG (2025), NICE (UK, 2011), European (ECCO, 2012) and SCENIC (USA, 2015) colitis surveillance guidelines, was the lead author for the BSG/ACPGBI management of large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps guidelines (2015), and lead author for the BSG/ACPGBI/PHE post-polypectomy surveillance guidelines (2020).

He is regional screening lead for quality assurance in colonoscopy and regional endoscopy lead.

Professor Ponnusamy Saravana

Editor-in-chief, Clinical Medicine

Dr Zuzanna Sawicka

Clinical director for patient safety and clinical standards

Dr Zuzanna Sawicka is an acute and community consultant in elderly medicine at Mid Yorkshire NHS Teaching Trust.

She was the clinical lead for the Future Hospital Programme project at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust which is one of the four Phase 1 RCP Future Hospital Programme development sites.

Zuzanna is currently the associate medical director for system collaboration for older people and those with frailty across the Mid Yorkshire footprint (Wakefield, Pontefract and Kirklees).

She is passionate about the patient and staff voice, especially in keeping patients safe. She is committed to about improving clinical standards, supporting staff to achieve their full potential and ensuring that patients get the right care at the right time and, where possible, that the care is delivered close to the place the person calls home.

Through the years, Zuzanna has worked on many patient safety issues, from championing PJ paralysis to improving hospital pathways. Most recently, she led and has advocated for improved care in the community setting by creating a Hospital at Home Programme locally, truly believing that the little things matter. 
In today’s world, where in health and social care we face challenges, recurrent bed pressures and financial constraints, Zuzanna firmly believes the ability to strive for excellence is vitally important and that, most of all, we must not do harm and ensure patients receive the care they need and deserve. 

Professor Anita K Simonds

Harveian librarian

Prof Anita K Simonds MD FRCP FERS is honorary consultant in Respiratory and Sleep medicine at Royal Brompton Hospital and Professor Emeritus at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. She has a clinical and research background in acute and chronic ventilation, high dependency unit care, and the respiratory consequences of neuromuscular disease.

Prof Simonds has an interest in the history of mechanical ventilation and pandemics. These topics were linked in the RCP FitzPatrick lecture 'Pickwick, Polio and Pandemics - the history of mechanical ventilation and future challenges presented by home delivery' delivered in March 2024. She was president of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) 2020-21 and is editor of  ERS Handbooks on Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Sleep Medicine and Non-invasive Respiratory Support.

• X (Twitter) Dr Dan Smith

Dr Dan Smith

Editor-in-chief of Medical Care – driving change

Dr Dan Smith is editor-in-chief of Medical Care – driving change and has responsibility for collaborating with colleagues to find and create innovative and useful content. Dan also ensures Medical Care resources are frequently reviewed and up to date.

Dan is a respiratory consultant in the East Midlands at Sherwood Forest Hospitals. He works nationally for NHS England supporting organisations to improve patient care by enabling teams to deliver quality improvement programmes.

Professor Michael de Swiet

Representative on the advisory committee of the Chelsea physic garden

Professor Michael de Swiet is RCP representative on the advisory committee of the Chelsea physic garden.

Dr Laura Waters

RCP patient involvement officer

Dr Sean Weaver

Deputy medical director, invited reviews

Sean splits his time between being a consultant gastroenterologist at University Hospitals Dorset and leading for Quality and Safety at the Trust. He trained in Oxford, Cambridge, Sydney and Bath where he obtained a PhD in molecular pharmacology. 

He was appointed in Bournemouth in 2005 and specialises in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and colonoscopy.  He has been clinical director and subsequently associate medical director for safety and quality.  During this role Bournemouth obtained the highest feedback nationally for safety in NHS staff survey and got outstanding for well led in a CQC inspection.  

He has completed a Masters in Quality Improvement and Leadership as part of the competitive Generation Q programmed funded by the Health Foundation. He was the national lead for the Royal College of Physicians Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality Improvement programme. 

He was Deputy Medical Director at the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB – the precursor of HSSIB) for 4 years. During this time he led national thematic reviews on Never Events and Safety Management Systems.

He is now Medical Director for Quality and Safety at University Hospitals Dorset, visiting fellow in patient safety at the University of Loughborough and Deputy Medical Director of the Invited Review Service at the Royal College of Physicians

Professor Tom Wilkinson

NRAP senior clinical lead

Professor Tom Wilkinson is professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Southampton and honorary NHS consultant physician at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, specialising in asthma and COPD. He leads the Southampton COPD research group and the airways disease theme of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.

Tom trained in Cambridge and London before moving to Southampton as a clinical lecturer. He has worked in COPD research and clinical service development for 20 years. 

Dr Stella George

Director of the RCP medical workforce and data insights unit

Dr Stella George is a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology at the East and North Hertfordshire Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (ENHIDE). Her undergraduate medical studies were completed at the University of Birmingham. Stella gained an MSc in medical education at the University of Cardiff and a PhD at the University of Cambridge. She undertook her specialist training in the Eastern Deanery and is a member of several national specialist committees, including ABCD (Association of British Clinical Diabetologists) and JBDS (Joint British Diabetes Societies).

As director of the Medical Workforce and Data Insights Unit, Stella leads on the design and development of RCP surveys, providing actionable insights into this data to key stakeholders, shaping workforce planning and policy decisions.

Stella liaises with stakeholders such as specialist societies, regional networks, NHS England, Health Education and Improvement Wales, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland and the General Medical Council.