Shahid Merali

MBChB PGDipMedEd FAcadMEd SFHEA FRCGP

I was recruited to Aston Medical School in 2018 before the first intake of students, and I established and led the department of Primary Care Education. As part of this role, I:
- designed the primary care curriculum and implemented all clinical placements in primary care across the whole of the MBChB programme
- designed and implemented the curriculum for the whole of Year 3 of the MBChB programme, including designing and implementing workplace-based assessments, the virtual learning environment and the e-portfolio
- recruited, quality-assured, and manage approximately 100 GP surgery sites where Aston medical students are placed
- led many other domains including training clinical educator colleagues (primary and secondary care) who teach students on placement; assessment design and implementation (including OSCEs and workplace-based assessments) and assessor training; and the training, management, and mentorship of faculty

I attained my MRCGP in 2011 and became an undergraduate tutor in 2012. In 2013 I took over a struggling practice and guided it to stability, and continue in the role of a GP Partner and Postgraduate GP Trainer. We won the Midlands NHS Parliamentary Award for Excellence in Primary Care in 2020. In 2015 I was appointed as a Training Programme Director (TPD) for the Black Country GP Vocational Training Scheme (Health Education England). In 2018 I was appointed as Lead for Primary Care Education (Clinical Senior Lecturer) at Aston Medical School. In 2018 I was honoured to receive the award of Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners, in 2019 to receive the award of Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, and in 2020 Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Educators. I have also held roles with the GMC as a PLAB Examiner (Part 2 Exam) and a PLAB Question Management Group Member (Part 1 Exam).

Having successfully established the department of Primary Care Education at Aston Medical School, I have reduced my commitments at Aston Medical School and now act as the Primary Care Placements Liaison Lead, and I manage the capacity and allocations of primary care placements across the whole of the MBChB programme. In 2023 I was appointed to the role of Clinical Lead for Quality Management and Training Standards for the Royal College of General Practitioners, where I also act as a Curriculum Editor and Workplace Based Assessment Core Group Member.

I am an enthusiastic and dedicated professional with a real love for primary care. As my career has developed, I have gained satisfaction from promoting improved patient outcomes at scale. In my clinical role I enjoy designing services to benefit thousands of patients. In my educational role I value the opportunity to improve the educational journey of medical students and doctors in training, to benefit exponential numbers of future patients.