New medical school launched by Imperial and Cumbria opens to students

A medical school launched by Imperial and the University of Cumbria to train doctors in North West England has opened to students for the first time.

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (PCSM) is the first graduate-entry medical school in Cumbria and is opening to 58 students in its first cohort, including many students from the North of England and Cumbria, and graduates from the University of Cumbria.

The School, which has been set up with philanthropic support from the Pears Foundation, has a unique focus on tackling the chronic shortage of doctors in Cumbria and aims to improve the recruitment, training and retention of doctors in the region.

"PCSM is taking a bold new approach; it has a regional focus and a bespoke curriculum, focused on prevention and innovation." Professor Mary Morrell Head of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine

For years, Cumbria has faced critical health inequalities, with staffing levels across the care pathway significantly below national averages. Life expectancy varies by almost 20 years between the poorest and wealthiest wards in the county and 68% of adults are overweight or obese.

PCSM has been designed to address these issues through a bespoke curriculum, focused on prevention and the delivery of high-quality care. As the School develops, it will use large data models and AI to prepare students for practice using digital technology.

“The figures show just how Cumbria needs doctors who are trained with an understanding of the unique challenges our communities face,” said Professor Mary Morrell, Head of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine.

“PCSM is taking a bold new approach; it has a regional focus and a bespoke curriculum, focused on prevention and innovation. As the School develops, it will target the use large data models and AI to prepare students for practice using digital technology. We are proud to be working alongside our clinical colleagues to bring meaningful change to the people of Cumbria.”

The School’s opening was made possible by a £5m gift from the Pears Foundation – a charitable foundation known for its long-term philanthropic investments in education and health, supporting initiatives that deliver deep community impact and systemic change.

Sir Trevor Pears, Executive Chair at the Pears Foundation, said: “It is one of the great advantages of being a family foundation that we can take the long view and make long-term investments in initiatives that we believe will have meaningful impact. The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is a great example of this. We believe it will put Cumbria in the vanguard of the way that this country thinks about the training and recruitment of doctors, whilst ensuring they are placed where they are most needed. I feel incredibly strongly that this is nothing less than Cumbria deserves."

Supporting the long-term future of the NHS

The strategic partnership for PCSM unites Imperial’s world-class research and medical education expertise and the University of Cumbria’s longstanding history of training healthcare professionals. 

"By drawing on Imperial’s medical expertise and Cumbria’s deep local knowledge, we can equip future doctors with the skills, compassion and resilience needed to meet the evolving challenges of healthcare." Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London

Working with the Pears Foundation, the School reflects a shared commitment to supporting long-term investment in the future of the NHS and improving access to medicine in Cumbria. 

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: "Imperial is proud to be partnering with the University of Cumbria to train the next generation of doctors who will deliver outstanding care to communities across the region.  

“The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is not only an important milestone in our shared vision to widen access to medical education, but also a powerful example of how world-leading research, innovative teaching, and strong community partnerships can come together to transform lives.  

“By drawing on Imperial’s medical expertise and Cumbria’s deep local knowledge, we can equip future doctors with the skills, compassion and resilience needed to meet the evolving challenges of healthcare." 

Professor Brian Webster Henderson OBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Cumbria, said: “The creation of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine represents a transformative moment for Cumbria. It exemplifies our commitment to place-based education and to addressing the real-world challenges faced by our communities. We are proud to be working with Imperial College London, the Pears Foundation and our partners to deliver a medical school that will change lives and improve health outcomes across the region.”

It is hoped that PCSM can also act as a potential blueprint for other regions of the UK which face similar challenges with the recruitment and retention of doctors.  

"The creation of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine represents a transformative moment for Cumbria. It exemplifies our commitment to place-based education and to addressing the real-world challenges faced by our communities." Professor Brian Webster Henderson OBE Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Cumbria

In 2023, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan cited PCSM as a project which will play a key role in the UK Government's ambition to double medical school places by 2031/32. 

The Plan recommended focusing on new medical schools and additional training places in geographical areas with the greatest staff shortfalls and unmet healthcare need. It also encouraged the promotion of applications from local populations as a measure to bring employment opportunities to more socially deprived locations. 

Professor Martin Lupton, Vice Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, added: "Our unique partnership reinforces Imperial’s commitment to our Science for Humanity strategy which emphasises enabling talent, interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing societal challenges. It is bringing world-class education in Medicine to where it can make the greatest difference. We are proud to support a new model that not only trains excellent doctors but also strengthens the communities they serve." 

PCSM students will receive a bespoke curriculum that is tailored for the region and to aligned with the NHS 10 Year Plan. Students will also benefit from exposure to clinical practice early within their training, complemented by a community-based research project, focused on prevention and healthcare delivery. 

The School’s focus on public health and prevention, health inequalities and mental health will train skilled clinicians to deliver high-quality care, foster a research-informed culture and advance medical education in Cumbria. 

Professor Deborah Ashby, Dean of Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine, said: “The arrival of the first ever Pears Cumbria School of Medicine students this week is the fruition of years of dedicated work from our colleagues at Imperial, the University of Cumbria, our partners – and of course the Pears Foundation, whose philanthropic support has made it possible. I want to congratulate all those incoming students and wish them the very best as they embark on their journeys to become the future of Cumbria’s NHS workforce.”

A legacy of service

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine will be based at the University of Cumbria’s historic Fusehill Street campus in Carlisle – a site with a long-standing legacy of service to its community. 

During the First World War, the buildings were repurposed as a hospital for wounded personnel, marking the beginning of its role in medical care. 

From 1968 to 2000, it served as the City Maternity Hospital, meaning many local residents and staff members were born on the very grounds where future doctors will now be trained. 

Read more on the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine here.

Main image credit: University of Cumbria.