Speakers

Dr James Norman

Dr James is a full-time consultant in general internal medicine and the new specialty of inclusion health, having trained in infectious diseases. He was chosen to represent the central and north-east London region in 2023. He was a graduate-entry medic in Nottingham and has spent time as a junior doctor in the Midlands, before returning home to London on an ID/GIM training number, completing his training in 2020 and taking an initial role in the Imperial Trust. Since joining University College Hospital in 2021, James has been working on identifying the health needs of the inclusion health population in the hope of improving their health outcomes and reducing their usage of emergency services. On top of this, he has a great deal of interest in medical education and both clinical and educational supervision. He hopes to unite all these interests in promoting better management of the inclusion health population across London, the UK and potentially beyond.

Dr Ed Birkhamshaw

Dr Ed Birkshaw is an infectious diseases and general medicine consultant in Birmingham. He is part of the national Civility Saves Lives campaign, which works to raise awareness about the importance of our behaviour in healthcare, in terms of creating high performing teams which maximise quality of patient care. Ed is also part of the learning from excellence movement, which along with Civility Saves Lives aims to generate a more positive culture of learning and development within the NHS.
 

Dr Caroline Elton

Dr Caroline Elton is a psychologist, academic and writer. Her earlier book, Also human: The inner lives of doctors, described the psychological demands of medical work. Her new book, Looking after: A portrait of my autistic brother, is a memoir of her late brother, Lionel, and is perhaps the first cradle-to-grave account of an autistic person’s life. Caroline was an associate professor / senior adviser at Norwich Medical School and is the co-author of the recent professional handbook, Career planning for doctors: an evidence-based approach, which was published in 2025 by Oxford University Press. Following the publication of Also human, Caroline was asked to lecture and run workshops throughout the UK, as well as in Europe, the US and Australia.

Dr Chung Thong Lim

Dr Chung Thong Lim is a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He graduated from Barts and the London, Queen Mary University of London, with a first class honours in intercalated BMedSc molecular medicine and endocrinology, and obtained distinctions in his MBBS medical and clinical sciences. Chung went on to complete his specialty training in the east of England deanery. During this period, he completed his fellowship at Barts and the London and was awarded a PhD in endocrinology. Throughout his training and career, he has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, presented in national/international meetings, and won several awards and fellowships, including the Jean Shanks Foundation award, British Society for Endocrinology undergraduate achievement award, and UK Xcel science student of the year. He is currently the lead in the endocrine hypertension and adrenal service.

Dr Joyce Cheng

Dr Joyce Cheng graduated from Norwich Medical School in 2018. She completed foundation and internal medicine training across the eastern deanery, experiencing first-hand what the region has to offer. Joyce is now an ST6 specialty registrar in respiratory and general internal medicine in Cambridge. Outside of respiratory medicine, her interests lie in medical education and she holds an associate fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. Through her previous roles representing resident doctors locally and on the regional Specialty Training Committee for internal medicine training, Joyce has worked on improving access to exam preparation, exposure to less accessible sub-specialties and fostering meaningful mentorships. Most importantly, she advocates for civility in the workplace and better working relationships. Alongside her work with the RCP as the Resident Doctor Committee representative for the Eastern region, Joyce is also the current general internal medicine higher specialty trainees representative for the eastern deanery.

Lucy Harding

Lucy Harding is a senior educationalist at the Royal College of Physicians, where she has led key leadership programmes for the past 3 years, including the prestigious Emerging Women Leaders and Six-Step for New Consultants programmes. Her career spans leadership roles across diverse educational settings, from higher education to prison education. Lucy holds a PhD focused on the experiences of teachers in challenging environments, with a particular emphasis on trauma-informed approaches to teaching and learning. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, she brings a values-driven approach to educational leadership and development.

Dr Laura Pugh

Dr Laura Pugh is a consultant in geriatric medicine in Nottinghamshire. Laura completed her higher specialist training within the East Midlands and gained her CCT in February 2023. She is a consultant in geriatric medicine and general internal medicine, working in Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Laura’s work includes being the service lead for orthogeriatrics and working on the acute take. She was appointed to the New Consultants Committee in July 2023 and has previously been an associate college tutor. She says, ‘Becoming a new consultant brought with it a renewed enthusiasm and belief that we can create positive change within our profession and in the wider healthcare system. I joined the committee to ensure new consultants get the voice they need to share their ideas and are represented at all levels within the RCP’.

Dr Adrian Li FRCP

Dr Adrian Li is a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology / general internal medicine at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH). He graduated from University College London in 2012 and was a south London diabetes and endocrinology trainee, completing training in October 2022. Adrian was appointed clinical lead for diabetes 6 weeks into his first consultant post. At the time, there was no formal diabetes or endocrinology service, however, just over 2 years later, he set up pathways to support rapid optimisation of diabetes in cancer care and pre-operatively. Adrian has also reduced length of stay and admissions with his HOT and acute follow-up clinics. In April 2025, PRUH Diabetes Inpatient team became the second in the UK to achieve national accreditation (DCAP).

Dr Sarb Clare MBE FRCP

Dr Sarb Clare MBE is an acute medical consultant at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. She has held numerous leadership positions including deputy medical director, NHSEI RCA AIM clinical adviser, and is the president of the West Midlands Physicians Association – the first female president since inception in 74 years.  Sarb clinically led the move to the new acute super hospital Midland Metropolitan. She is a national pioneer in POCUS (point of care ultrasound), which she lectures and teaches on nationally via a course and free online learning tools. Sarb’s book, Ultrasound for the generalist: a guide to point of care imaging, with Cambridge University Press, is a culmination of 20 years of POCUS experience. She is passionate about leadership, gender and diversity workplace balance, as well as widening participation. She leads a ‘Women empowering women’ movement within medicine, hosts a podcast and has delivered a TEDx Talk. In 2020, Sarb was awarded an MBE Queens Honor for her service to the NHS and her leadership during the pandemic.

Dr Shuaib Quraishi FRCP

Dr Shuaib Quraishi is an acute internal medicine and general internal medicine consultant in south London. He was appointed in October 2022 as a substantive consultant at Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust and has a CCT in acute internal medicine and general internal medicine. Shuaib’s specialist interests are in enhanced care, point of care ultrasound and medical education. He has a diploma in clinical education, has previously been an education fellow for the RCP and completed the RCP Chief Registrar scheme.

Dr Ben Chadwick FRCP

Dr Ben Chadwick is a consultant in acute medicine at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and has a long-standing interest in medical education. At a postgraduate level he has been the training programme director for acute internal medicine in Wessex, and subsequently the chair of the Acute Internal Medicine Specialist Advisory Committee at the JRCPTB. Ben has been deputy registrar at the RCP since March 2025.

Dr Muna Aljawad FRCP

Dr Muna Al-Jawad is a clinical academic working at Brighton and Sussex Medical School as an associate professor in medical education. She is curriculum lead on the undergraduate course and lead for the personal and professional development module. She co-leads the masters in health professions education. Muna is currently co-chairing a medical schools council group, writing national anti-racism guidance for medical schools. In her 50% clinical time, she is a consultant geriatrician, working on the acute floor (also known as the ED corridor) and specialist dementia ward (A8) at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Muna’s research uses comics to understand the practice of medicine. She is well known in the graphic medicine community (as part of the field of healthcare humanities). In 2024, she completed a PhD at the School of Art and Media. You can find her comics here: https://oldpersonwhisperer.wordpress.com/ 

 

Dr David Lanham

Dr David Lanham is a consultant in acute and geriatric medicine at University College London Hospitals (UCLH). He is an early-career consultant in his second year and has been involved in digital healthcare development at UCLH for the past 7 years. Alongside his clinical work, David works within the Digital Leadership team supporting the medical director at UCLH. He has a particular interest in the epic electronic health record and sits on the Geriatric Medicine Steering Group for epic at UCLH. His work focuses on identifying practical digital solutions that improve patient care, support clinicians in their day-to-day work, and help the NHS function more effectively.

Dr Bryony Alderman

Dr Bryony Alderman completed her specialist training in palliative medicine in 2024 and successfully began a consultant post in May of the same year. Aside from her clinical commitments, Bryony also works part-time within the Education Directorate at the RCP.

Dr Kamran Mushtaq FRCP

Dr Kamran Mushtaq is a consultant gastroenterologist at University Hospital Southampton. He holds a master’s degree in clinical research and is a fellow of the RCP. Kamran completed his training in internal medicine and gastroenterology in Qatar and his interests include therapeutic luminal endoscopy and patient safety. He remains committed to supporting the professional growth and wellbeing of new consultants, particularly those from a diverse background.

Dr Mo Aye FRCP

Dr Mo Aye is a consultant endocrinologist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals and an honorary senior lecturer at Hull York Medical School. He leads the metabolic bone service and has a long-standing commitment to medical education. He is an associate global director at RCP Global with experience in postgraduate training, supporting international medical graduates and developing global partnerships. With almost 30 years of NHS practice, Mo has seen both directly and indirectly how medical work can intersect with the legal world. He is especially interested in how doctors can build sustainable portfolio careers that combine clinical practice with law.

Corinne Slingo

Dr Dhivya Das FRCP

Dr Dhivya Das is a consultant rheumatologist in Salford. Dhivya was appointed in 2021 at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and is currently completing her MSc in medical education. She has special interests in axial spondyloarthropathy, psoriatic arthritis and medical education. Dhivya has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences, as well as having experience in teaching and examining undergraduate students and postgraduate trainees. She is also a PACES examiner and attained FRCP in 2022. Dhivya wishes to represent the best interests of new consultants, improve flexible work pathways and empower trainees to consider postgraduate medical specialities as a fulfilling career pathway.

Dr Dena Pitrola FRCP

Dr Dena Pitrola is an acute medicine and renal consultant at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. She was appointed in July 2024, having completed her undergraduate and postgraduate training across Wales. Dena is currently the acute medicine undergraduate specialty training lead and has an MSc in medical education. She is honoured by the opportunity to represent her colleagues, having been one of the first associate college tutors, and has taken on both formal and informal roles working with RCP tutors over the years.

Dr Saif Huda

Dr Saif Huda is a consultant neurologist and clinical lead for an NHS England highly specialised service and autoimmune neurology at the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust. He is also an NIHR funded clinician scientist, director of the neuroscience research facility, head of the autoimmune neurology laboratory, and senior clinical lecturer at the University of Liverpool. Saif’s clinical and academic work focuses on autoimmune neurological disorders, combining clinical, wet lab, MRI and big data translational research, and national service leadership and collaboration. Despite holding a full-time clinical role throughout his career, he built his research trajectory from the ground up, starting as a junior doctor and neurology SpR with no research background. Supported by mentors, peers and collaborators, Saif has gone on to secure competitive funding and deliver impactful research programmes. He now shares practical strategies for developing a research career alongside busy clinical practice.
 

Dr Katie Ewins

Dr Katie Ewins has been a consultant geriatrician at Broomfield Hospital in Essex for 10 years and a medical examiner for 8 years. She is the clinical lead for acute frailty and co-leads the medical examiner service.