Sam Shah
We asked Sam Shah, Director of Digital Development at NHS England and Founding Fellow of FMLM, why medical leadership and FMLM Fellowship are so important.
What motivated you to apply to become an FMLM Fellow and why do you think FMLM Fellowship is important?
Applying to become a Fellow was a natural progression in my professional development and it is an important and recognisable standard within clinical leadership. As a clinician involved in systems leadership it offers another opportunity to connect with other fellows involved in similar roles at a system level.
Why is medical leadership so important?
Clinical Leadership remains extremely important to any health system and no more so than in the NHS across the UK. In any complex system, we need clinical leaders that can operate in a multidisciplinary and who are equipped to make challenging decisions that can progress healthcare. Clinical leadership spans professional boundaries and remains an important mechanism through which clinicians can improve health outcomes.
How does effective medical leadership improve patient care?
Effective clinical leadership provides an opportunity to focus solutions around improving patient care and ensuring that decision making is linked to better outcomes. It also modifies the role of the clinician to take a role in system leadership.
What inspired you to join FMLM and how important do you see FMLM in enabling you to fulfil your leadership aspirations?
As a founding member of FMLM, I joined at a time when High Quality Care for All had been published and there was emphasis across healthcare to focus on clinical leadership; at the same time, managed clinical networks were emerging. FMLM provides a professional home through which clinical leaders can collaborate, share ideas and translate learning as well as help to support professional development.
Can you tell us about an individual whose leadership has inspired you during your career?
Professor Stephen Lambert-Humble MBE was my postgraduate dean, my trainer and lead consultant whilst I was in specialist training. He inspired me to seek out new opportunities and also to develop others. As a trainer he always tried to find ways to make training programmes work around the development needs of an individual rather try and to make a generic programme fit, as a leader he was always willing to make difficult decisions and sometimes those disrupted the status quo.
FMLM Fellowship exists at three levels to reflect different degrees of leadership experience: Senior Fellow, Fellow, and Associate Fellow. Read more about FMLM Fellowship and apply to become a fellow.