The University of Liverpool’s Dr Mumtaz Patel has been elected as the 123rd president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
Dr Patel will be the fourth woman and the first woman of Indian descent to lead the RCP.
Dr Patel is a consultant nephrologist based in Manchester Royal Infirmary and Director for Conduct and Progress at the University of Liverpool’s School of Medicine. She is currently RCP senior censor and vice president for education and training and has been acting as president since June 2024.
During her tenure as vice president of the RCP between 2020 and 2023, she played a key role in expanding the global membership and creating the Global Women Leaders Programme, which supports female physicians in achieving leadership positions. She was elected as Vice President for Education and Training in 2023 and the following year the RCP’s acting president.
Dr Patel has had a pivotal role in shaping the School of Medicine Professionalism and Conduct processes and in the education of its future doctors, helping them to establish their professional identities.
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.
The RCP president is chair of RCP Council and a member of the Board of Trustees. The president is elected for a recommended 4-year term.
5151 votes were cast for president, with a turnout of 36.3% across RCP elections 2025. This is the highest turnout in RCP elections since the presidential election in 2002. Dr Patel received 2239 votes with a margin of 682 votes to the next placed candidate.
An official start date will be determined as soon as possible.
Dr Mumtaz 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.”
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.”
Photo credit: Royal College of Physicians