Among those recognised was Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE, Director of the Oxford Centre for Research Equity, who was awarded an Honorary Fellowship — the highest honour the College can bestow upon a non-GP.
Professor Patel becomes the first pharmacist in England to receive this prestigious accolade. His Fellowship marks a significant step forward in recognising the power of interprofessional collaboration between pharmacy and general practice through research, education, and professional leadership. It reflects a growing momentum towards more integrated and inclusive models of healthcare.
In his acceptance speech, Professor Patel described the award not simply as a personal achievement, but as a powerful symbol of partnership across healthcare. He emphasised the importance of breaking down professional silos and inspiring deeper collaboration between disciplines. He remarked:
As a pharmacist, receiving the highest honour from a Royal Medical College is far beyond anything I could have imagined — it’s more than just symbolic. It brings hope and inspiration to other non-medical professionals, signalling the value of working together to drive system-wide change and improve outcomes for all.”
Professor Patel’s distinguished career began in community pharmacy and has evolved to include national and international leadership roles. He has been a tireless advocate for research equity, professional inclusivity, and better healthcare outcomes — particularly for underserved and marginalised communities.
A respected national voice, Professor Patel recently convened senior healthcare leaders from across the UK, including senior NHS and policy leaders, at a landmark ministerial event at the House of Commons, focused on shaping the future of the NHS. He is also playing a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the creation of a Royal College of Pharmacy, convening cross-sector dialogue and championing shared leadership in advancing the pharmacy profession.
His longstanding relationship with the RCGP began with early contributions to the Research Ready Programme. More recently, through his leadership at the Oxford Centre for Research Equity, he has developed partnerships with the HSC Research and Development Division, Department of Health Northern Ireland — a collaboration that included the RCGP — as well as with Health and Care Research Wales, part of the Welsh Government, to advance inclusive and equitable health research across the UK.
Working closely with the RCGP’s research division, Professor Patel, as co-lead for the successful NIHR-supported Race Equity Award, was instrumental in enabling the College to become a key collaborator — marking a significant milestone in building inclusive research capacity and capability across primary care, particularly among Black and ethnic minority healthcare professionals.
In addition, he has contributed to the College’s Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Summit around shaping new neighbourhood care models as part of the new NHS reforms — designed to improve integration of health and social care at the community level, especially for those with complex or ongoing needs.
Throughout his work, Professor Patel has remained focused on reducing health inequalities and driving progress in how healthcare and research engage with all communities. His passion for improving outcomes for those too often overlooked was a driving force behind the establishment of the Oxford Centre for Research Equity.
This Fellowship is not only a recognition of Professor Patel’s exceptional leadership and vision — it is also a testament to the Centre’s mission. It reflects the values of collaboration, shared purpose, and trust across health professions, in pursuit of health equity through inclusive research and better care for everyone, regardless of background or circumstance.
About the Royal College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is the professional membership body for general practitioners (GPs) in the UK. It supports more than 54,000 GPs worldwide through training, education, licensing, clinical standards, and research. The College is led by GPs and works to raise standards in general practice and improve patient care.
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