Professor Curran will bring a wealth of international experience to the role, affirming the Faculty’s place at the forefront of medical education.
Professor Ian Curran trained in anaesthesia at Barts and the Royal London Hospitals and has held many senior academic and clinical positions in the UK and overseas. He is an award-winning medical educator and transformational leader. He has advised UK Chief Medical Officers, NHS England, Health Education England and the UK Department of Health. In his new role he intends to promote compassion, innovation and excellence in medical, dental and health professions education across East London and beyond, putting students and patients at the heart of the Faculty’s work.
Professor Curran joins Queen Mary from the College of Health and Medicine at the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, where he was the inaugural Deputy Dean for Health Professions. During his time at ANU he led a number of strategic transformations of the healthcare education portfolio, increasing its scope, range, and distinctiveness. He was also a professor in the pioneering ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, advocating and leading a more bio-psycho-social approach to health professions education.
Before joining ANU, Professor Curran was Professor and Vice Dean of Education at the Duke-NUS Medical School, an autonomous School of the National University of Singapore, where he led a successful transformation of the Doctor of Medicine programme. At the same time, he was Co-Director of the Academic Medicine Education Institute of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, which served the largest academic medical centre in Singapore.
Professor Curran has held many strategic, academic, clinical and professional leadership roles in the UK, most notably at the General Medical Council (GMC) where he led the revision of UK medical education standards. Reflecting the values of Queen Mary, at the GMC Professor Curran led policy development on differential attainment and promoted psychological safety, equality and diversity in education. In 2014 he became Professor of Innovation and Excellence in Healthcare Education in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London.
When asked about his aims as new Dean, Professor Ian Curran said: “I am very pleased to be rejoining Queen Mary and look forward to working with colleagues and health partners to promote the highest standards of education, professional practice and leadership across our academic health system. With our exceptional partners, Faculty and staff, I am keen to champion innovative educational programmes, promote excellent student experience, and support transformative patient care.”
Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, Vice Principal for Health for Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, said: “I am delighted that Ian will be joining our Faculty as our new Dean for Education and lead our efforts to continue delivering excellent education for future generations of doctors, dentists, and medical professionals.
I would also like to offer my thanks to our outgoing Dean, Professor Anthony Warrens for his work, particularly in relation to the establishment and continued success of our Medical campus in Malta.”
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