Dr Thomas Gardiner
Tom studied medicine at the University of Oxford, where he was awarded a scholarship for “outstanding academic achievement”. He went on to complete his Foundation training in North West London, during which he received awards for Clinical Excellence and Leadership, recognising his “compassion and kindness through the COVID pandemic”.
He has a keen interest in health policy and politics and has spent time working for several leading parliamentarians, including the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Tom sits on the Executive Committee of the Fabian Society (a policy think-tank) and is Convenor of the Society’s Health Network. He has written about health and social care policy issues for outlets such as the Independent, the Guardian and the Daily Mirror, and is a member of the New Economy Organisers National Spokesperson Network.
Tom is passionate about tackling health inequalities and has published articles on related topics in academic journals, most recently a BMJ editorial on “racial and ethnic health disparities in healthcare settings”. He also cares deeply about improving the working conditions and experiences of his NHS colleagues and undertook research into the health and wellbeing of bands 1-4 workers during his time at the Health Foundation.
Tom is also a keen advocate of educational equality. He has volunteered for several access charities, been a school governor and is a trustee at one-eighty, a psychological behaviour support charity for young people. In 2018 he was named the “Biggest Champion of Social Mobility” at the upReach Student Social Mobility Awards.
Reason for applying for the scheme
Tom is delighted to have been appointed as the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow for the Clinical Policy Unit at NHS England and Improvement. Amongst other things, he is excited to work on initiatives that apply evidence-based interventions to tackle health inequalities in the key NHS long-term plan work streams of cardiovascular and respiratory health and now also in Long Covid.
The fellowship scheme offers a unique opportunity to develop leadership and management skills that will help him contribute meaningfully to the vision of a more equitable society. In particular, Tom was attracted to the opportunities to learn from and collaborate with peers. The prospect of being part of a cohort of individuals passionate about the importance of medical leadership is one that genuinely excites him. Having completed the Next Generation GP programme, he knows the importance of sharing experiences and ideas with a like-minded support network.
Tom is a firm believer that medical leadership is the key to empowering NHS staff to enact the change they want to see and are uniquely placed to deliver. Ultimately this scheme enables its fellows to become leaders and he wants to be as effective as possible from an early stage, and be armed with the skills to continue to grow and develop throughout his career.
