Professor Russell Smith – Postgraduate Dean
Russell Smith is Health Education England’s Postgraduate Dean for the West Midlands. Previous roles include Deputy Dean and Associate Dean for Quality. His duties are multi-professional, responsible for the quality of education and training of postgraduate medical trainees and all undergraduate healthcare students. He works closely with the four Medical Schools in the West Midlands as well as with key regulators including the GMC and CQC and other Arms Length Bodies. He Co-Chairs the UK Foundation Programme and has lead dean roles including the National School of Healthcare Science.
He trained as a cardiologist and physician and continues in clinical practice at University Hospitals Birmingham. He has been a member of the Cardiology SAC for more than 10 years completing as its chair while elected Vice President (Training) of the British Cardiovascular Society. He is also a PACES examiner and Chair, and an ALS Instructor and Director.
His research interests have been varied within the cardiovascular field and included an MD on nitric oxide biology. More recently he has concentrated on heart failure and the role of device therapy and imaging in its investigation and management.
His motivation is to deliver safe, high quality and evidence-based patient care and to ensure systems are in place to train and educate future generations of healthcare workers to continue that objective. He still enjoys teaching and mentoring individuals and small groups while concentrating on regional and national objectives to commission, monitor and improve clinical education and training.
For his education achievements and responsibilities, the University of Birmingham awarded an honorary professorship in 2016.