Dr Mumtaz Patel has been elected as the 123rd president of the UK’s Royal College of Physicians (RCP). She was chosen on her pledge to “modernise the college and re-establish the RCP as the voice of our membership and of medicine”.
Born in Preston, Lancashire, to parents who migrated from India, Dr Patel is a consultant nephrologist with the NHS based in Manchester. She is currently RCP senior censor and vice president for education and training and has been acting as president since June 2024. Before being elected as senior censor, she was global vice president and has held various educational roles including training programme director and RCP regional adviser. She is an NHS England Postgraduate Associate Dean in the north-west and has established a strong track record in education, training, assessment and research. She has designed and delivered several educational and leadership courses in the UK and internationally and is actively involved in assessment as an experienced PACES examiner.
After her election this week, Dr Patel said: “As president, I will lead the RCP to be the best organisation it can be, supporting our members throughout every career stage to deliver the best possible healthcare for our patients.
“I will bring passion, commitment, vision, a values-driven approach and more than 20 years of RCP experience to the role.”
The RCP president, elected for a four-year term, is chair of RCP Council and a member of the Board of Trustees. Patel, who was the clear winner with 2,239 votes and a margin of 682 votes to the next placed candidate, will officially start her new role at a date to be announced in the coming weeks.
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Dr Diana Walford CBE, chair of the RCP Board of Trustees, said: “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I warmly congratulate Dr Mumtaz Patel on becoming the next president of the RCP.
“Dr Patel takes on this vital role following a challenging period for the college, and I am confident in her ability to lead with integrity, rebuild trust among our members and restore the lustre to this illustrious college.
“I look forward to working with Dr Patel in this important next chapter in the RCP’s long history. I should also like to thank everyone who has stood in this hugely important election. It is clear from all the candidate statements the passion they have for a strong and truly representative RCP. The Board of Trustees will do all it can to support Dr Patel in her work to lead and modernise our college.”
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP), dating back over 500 years, is a professional membership body with 40,000 members in the UK and around the world working to improve patient care and reduce illness. Its activities focus on educating, improving and influencing for better health and care.
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Dr Anthony Martinelli and Dr Catherine Rowan, co-chairs of the RCP Resident Doctor Committee, said: “The Resident Doctor Committee is pleased to congratulate Dr Patel on her election. We look forward to working with her to improve conditions, support and career prospects for early career doctors.
“Together, we can ensure that the next generation of physicians is empowered, valued and equipped to thrive in a changing healthcare landscape.”
*Info: Royal College of Physicians
