Dr Sonia Kumar

I have been the Director of Undergraduate Primary Care Education in the School of Public Health for 8 years now, overseeing all medical student placements in the community across the six years of their MBBS degree. In addition two years ago I established MEdIC, a new unique centre of medical education committed to exploring innovation and research that have a positive and sustainable impact on society. I’ve been really proud of what we have achieved over these past years, for example all 3rd students complete community action projects (which this year has focussed on COVID Vaccine hesitancy) and all 5th students will be anchored to local secondary schools for a year, enabling medical students to learn the art and craft of medicine by contributing to local community priorities.

My family continually inspire me with their resilience to embrace change with such dignity, strength and humour. My team also inspires me daily, bonded by a unified vision and goal to utilise our roles and positions to address societal inequity, trying to make the world a better place. They are in a way my work-family.

Following on from binging on the series The Queen’s Gambit, I have been addicted to playing chess. I cant say I am very good, but I have definitely improved by being beaten repeatedly by my husband and two teenage girls!