This site is intended for health professionals only


31. Dr Nishma Manek

This young GP has risen up the ranks at NHS England. Dr Manek is the brains behind the ‘Next Generation GP’ project, an attempt to open leadership opportunities for trainees and young GPs.

She says this came about after she challenged NHS England on the lack of leadership development opportunities for younger GPs, and then managed to secure funding from Health Education England and NHSE. The project started in London, but there are now established programmes in eight cities in England, with more than 420 participants.

But Dr Manek has been influential in promoting change elsewhere. She mentors several Year-12 pupils and medical students, work closely with ‘Inspiring the Future’ (a charity that encourages those at underprivileged schools to apply to study medicine). She also has a ‘real passion for homeless health’, volunteering once a week for homeless community projects in London and now Cambridge – even being awarded ‘most outstanding volunteer 2017’ by the Abbey Centre in London.

But her proudest achievement remains her work with Next Generation GP. Her motivation, she says, is ‘inspiring the next generation and giving them hope that that they can change their own circumstances, rather than being passive recipients of the system’.

 

Why influential: Rising up the ranks at NHS England

What others say about her: ‘The brains behind the Next Generation GP Programme’

Random fact: A devout Liverpool FC supporter