UHNM appoints new hospital dean team
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has appointed a new hospital dean team to help lead and support undergraduate medical education.
Dr Mark Poulson, deputy chief medical officer, has been appointed as UHNM hospital dean, alongside new deputy deans Dr Ram Matsa, consultant in intensive care and acute medicine, and Mr Vittal Rao, consultant upper gastrointestinal (GI) and bariatric surgeon.
The new team took up their roles at the beginning of May and will work closely with Keele University to continue delivering high quality clinical placements, teaching and support for medical, physician associate and paramedic
science students across UHNM.
Dr Poulson brings extensive senior leadership experience to the role, having previously served as associate medical director for postgraduate education, deputy medical director for performance, UHNM responsible officer and West Midlands deputy dean.
Dr Matsa, UHNM director of clinical skills, and Mr Rao, UHNM undergraduate surgical lead, will continue in their existing substantive roles alongside their deputy dean responsibilities.
The appointments follow the contributions of former Hospital Dean Miss Fidelma O’Mahony and former Deputy Dean Dr George Varughese, who together spent almost 20 years supporting and leading undergraduate medical education at UHNM.
Dr Ruth Kinston, director of undergraduate medicine at Keele University School of Medicine, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Mark, Ram and Vittal into these important leadership roles. Together they bring a huge amount of experience, commitment and passion for undergraduate education.
“UHNM has built a strong reputation as a supportive and high-quality learning environment and I look forward to working with the new team as we continue to provide excellent opportunities and experiences for our students.”
Dr Poulson said: “I’m really excited and pleased to take on the role of hospital dean. Undergraduate education is incredibly important and I’m passionate about making sure students have the best possible experience during their time at UHNM.
“Healthcare is constantly evolving, so it’s vital we prepare students not just for practice today, but for the future of medicine and healthcare. I’m looking forward to working with students and colleagues across UHNM and Keele to make sure we continue providing the very best learning opportunities and support.”
Dr Matsa said: “My focus is on making sure students have a really positive and consistent experience on placement, while also supporting the staff who teach them in an extremely busy clinical environment.
“We know many Keele students choose to stay and work locally after qualifying, so this is also about supporting and developing the future workforce for our hospitals and communities. Ultimately, good education helps us provide the best care for patients.”
Mr Rao said: “I am very proud to have been appointed deputy dean and look forward to continuing my work supporting undergraduate education development and delivery at UHNM in collaboration with Keele University.
“It is a huge responsibility to help train the next generation of doctors and I’m keen to continue strengthening opportunities for students while supporting colleagues who contribute so much to medical education across the Trust.”