College announces candidates for next Chair

Publication date: 27 May 2022

Three candidates are standing for Chair of Council of the Royal College of GPs to succeed Professor Martin Marshall when his three-year term ends in November this year.

They are:

  • Dr Sunil Gupta
  • Professor Kamila Hawthorne
  • Dr Gary Howsam

Unlike other Medical Royal Colleges, the RCGP has a Chair and a President. The Chair of Council leads on all aspects of College policy and strategic decision making, while the role of the President Is largely ambassadorial.

Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick, RCGP Chief Operating Officer and Returning Officer, said:

"Thank you to the three candidates who have put themselves forward to be our next Chair of Council. Each has already made a contribution to the College in their own way, and of course, to the profession and their patients. I wish good luck to each of them."

We also have two candidates standing for Vice Chair (External Affairs), to succeed Dr Gary Howsam, when his three-year term comes to an end, also in November.

They are:

  • Dr Imran Rafi
  • Dr Victoria Tzortziou-Brown

Both the Chair of Council and Vice Chair (External Affairs) positions are voted for by Members of Council. All candidates will give their 'hustings' speeches at the next meeting of Council in June.

The candidates with most votes will become the Chair-Elect and Vice Chair-Elect until November Council when they will take their positions officially.

Elections are also currently open for six Nationally Elected Council member seats on UK Council, which will become vacant from November 2022.

There are nine candidates standing for election:

  • Dr Kirsty Alexander
  • Dr Gail Allsopp
  • Dr Stuart Blake
  • Sir Sam Everington
  • Dr Aaliya Goyal
  • Dr Helena McKeown
  • Dr Nicki Perry
  • Dr Carter Singh
  • Dr Richard Vautrey

All College members in good standing are eligible to vote in the national election.

The ballot for all three elections will open on Monday 27 June and will run for three weeks. The results will be formally announced at the RCGP’s UK Council meeting in September.

All three elections will be conducted officially and independently by Civica Election Services (formerly Electoral Reform Services).

Further Information

RCGP Press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editor

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 52,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.