Professor of Critical Care Medicine becomes Vice Dean for Health and Care Partnerships

Professor Paul Dark has been appointed to the role of Health and Care Partnerships for the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Paul will build on the work begun by Professor Ian Bruce, ensuring our relationships continue to develop and flourish with the NHS and the health and social care infrastructure across Greater Manchester, the northwest and nationally. 

Since joining the University in 2003 as a clinical academic, Paul built an impressive career and, in addition to his substantive role as Chair of Clinical Medicine within the Faculty, Paul is also an honorary Consultant in Critical Care Medicine with the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and an honorary NHS Research Consultant at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.  

Alongside these roles, Paul has also held national and international positions. This included being seconded to the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Urgent Public Health pandemic research advisory committee during Covid and, most recently, holding the position of National Deputy Medical Director for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). 

Professor Allan Pacey, Interim Dean for the Faculty said “Paul’s knowledge of the healthcare sector and experience in engaging with a broad and complex range of stakeholders will be instrumental in continuing to foster those critical partnerships integral to achieving our institutional and common goals across the region” 

Professor Dark said: “I am thrilled to be taking on this new role and look forward to working closely with Faculty colleagues and our health and care partners as we develop and align our strategic responses to key challenges and opportunities presented by changes in legislation, technology or government policy”