Sanjiv Sharma, currently deputy chief executive and CMO at Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH), will start the role in March

(Left) Credit: Inkdrop via Canva, (right) Sanjiv Sharma, Credit: Barts Health NHS Trust

Barts Health NHS Trust has confirmed its new group chief medical officer (CMO).

Sanjiv Sharma, currently deputy chief executive and CMO at Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH), will start the role in March.

He replaces professor Alistair Chesser who is stepping down in March to take up a clinical role at Newham Hospital.

A chief medical officer is a licensed doctor who is responsible for overseeing daily clinical operations and ensuring it is of a high-quality.

According to Barts, Sharma is a paediatric intensive care consultant and he “intends to continue some clinical practice” while CMO, like Chesser before him.

Shane DeGaris, group chief executive, said: “This is a crucial role at a crucial time for the NHS, and the fierce competition for the post reflects not only the high-standing with which our group of hospitals is regarded, but also the legacy that Alistair leaves behind after steering our medical leadership for the last nine years.

“Sanjiv comes from a world-leading hospital with a strong track record in leading clinical research, education, and innovation. He was an outstanding candidate whose personal and professional values fit closely with our own ethos in east London, and we look forward to working with him.”

Sanjiv said: “I am really excited about the opportunity to join Barts Health. You are a centre of excellence and scale, where the demands of serving a large and diverse population require not only strong clinical leadership but also a commitment to driving better health outcomes for excluded and diverse communities.”

He continued: “The values and ethos of the organisation I work for really matter to me. All of the people I have met to date have been hugely committed to working together at pace to improving the health of people across north-east London and beyond. I look forward to joining them on this critical mission.”

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