FMLM Chair appointed Dame in King’s Birthday Honours

Image

Celia Ingham Clark MBE, Chair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM), has been appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the King's Birthday Honours 2025, for services to the NHS.

Dame Celia, a Founding Senior Fellow of FMLM, is a distinguished British surgeon and healthcare leader, who has made an impact in many senior roles focused on patient safety, quality improvement, leadership and clinical effectiveness across the National Health Service.

Trained in Cambridge and London, Celia became a consultant general and colorectal surgeon at Whittington Hospital in 1996, going on to serve as Director of Medical Education, Clinical Director, and as the hospital’s Medical Director from 2004 to 2012.

In 2014 she took charge as NHS England’s National Director for Reducing Premature Mortality, focusing on system-wide initiatives to lower mortality rates, and in 2016 went on to serve as NHS England’s Medical Director for Clinical Effectiveness – later extended to include Professional Leadership – and interim National Director for Patient Safety, leading work to improve the rapid detection and management of sepsis. 

In 2024, she retired from work as Medical Director for Professional Leadership and Professional Standards at NHS England, but took up the roles of Chair at both the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) in December 2024, and FMLM in January 2025.

The award comes as recognition of this work in the NHS, advancing medical leadership and improving quality of care.

Dame Celia Ingham Clark said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 

“A leader is only as strong as their team, so this a testament to the collective efforts of the many colleagues, mentors, and teams I’ve had the privilege to work alongside over the years. It is also a fine tribute to all those working to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient care and further professionalise clinical leadership. 

“I am immensely grateful to those who nominated me, and I thank the King and the honours committee for it. I remain committed to continuing improving care and raising the standards of clinical leadership.”

Professor Rich Withnall, Chief Executive Officer of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, said: “Good leadership saves lives, and Celia’s exemplary work throughout her long and distinguished career bears this out. Her drive and dedication across her leadership roles has undoubtedly improved patient care. This honour is a much-deserved recognition of her vital work. 

“We are all very proud of her at FMLM, and we look forward to continuing our work together in equipping current and future leaders with the skills they need to transform the NHS and improve the health of the nation.”