
Professor Parveen Kumar
Professor Parveen Kumar was born in India before Partition, where she went to a boarding school in the magisterial surroundings of the foothills of the Himalayas. She then came with her family to the UK in time to study for her O levels. A fascination with medicine lead her to St Bart’s where at the time she was one of very few women there studying medicine. But far from being deterred she "… got used to being the only girl" and has remained loyal to Bart’s where she has worked ever since. It was also at St Bart’s where she met her husband David Leaver, a very gifted musician and respiratory physician. They have two daughters, one of whom has joined the family firm of medicine.
An incredibly enthusiastic and energetic educator (she feels lucky to be in Medicine and still finds it fun), Parveen Kumar teaches medical students, trainees, PLAB doctors, refugee doctors and candidates for the MRCP. She is also senior examiner for the MRCP, MBBS and other post-graduate degrees - both at home and abroad. As her writing partner, Mike Clark, once said ‘’She gets herself involved in every conceivable thing and never gives anything up - she just adds it on. At the moment she is probably working 15 hour day - and that is a short day"
In 1999 Parveen was awarded the first Asian Woman of the Year (Professional) award, and in 2000 she was granted a CBE for services to medicine. Her past and current appointments are too numerous to mention, but some highlights include:
- Professor of Clinical Medical Education Bart’s and the London;
- Honorary Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist Bart’s and the London NHS Trust and Homerton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust;
- Chairman, Medicines Commission UK;
- President (Academic) Royal College of Physicians;
- President of the BMA (2006)
- and President of the RSM (2009-10)
Among family and work commitments, Parveen Kumar still finds time to be one half of the now legendary Kumar & Clark and is loved by her own students and those who have benefited over the years from her hard work through Clinical Medicine. She even has her own fan page on Facebook! Now how many people can say that?