Professor Richard McManus has been appointed as the new Dean of Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) with effect from 2 September 2024. Professor Malcolm Reed is retiring at the end of July 2024, as the School concludes its twentieth anniversary celebrations. BSMS is a partnership between the Universities of Sussex and Brighton, and the Dean reports to both Vice-Chancellors.

Professor McManus qualified from St Mary’s Hospital Medical School (now Imperial) in 1991 and trained in London and Gloucestershire in medicine and general practice before starting his academic career in Birmingham where he gained a PhD and rose to be appointed Professor of Primary Care Research in 2009. He moved to Oxford in 2011 where he holds a statutory chair in Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, a Governing Body Fellowship at Green Templeton College and works as a GP Partner at Northgate Health Centre. Richard is a leading authority on the management of hypertension and his work on the diagnosis of hypertension and self-monitoring of blood pressure has changed national and international guidelines, bringing monitoring out of the clinic and into the home.

Richard enjoys mentoring and has supported medical students, healthcare professionals, social scientists, GPs and other academic colleagues both within the UK and internationally for many years. He believes passionately in the importance of including research in both training and everyday clinical practice and is proud to support the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Academy, currently chairing their Research Professors Selection Committee. He is an NIHR Senior Investigator.

Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex said: “Richard’s clinical research expertise and leadership skills shone throughout the selection process, and I am extremely pleased to have appointed him to the role. Richard will build on the fantastic legacy that Malcolm passes on, to take BSMS forward in advancing cutting-edge medical research and the training of the next generation of medical practitioners for the benefit of the NHS, and contributing to the health and wellbeing of people around the world.”

Professor Debra Humphris, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton said: “I am thrilled that we are able to welcome Richard to BSMS. His experience and expertise as Professor of Primary Care will be hugely valuable for the future direction of this unique partnership, enabling us to grow our collective research and practice in primary and community care through even greater collaboration.”

Richard said: “I am delighted to be joining BSMS with its well-deserved reputation as the go-to destination for medical students where excellence and inclusivity sit side by side. I am passionate about research and its importance to clinical practice, and look forward to further developing this with colleagues at BSMS, its partner universities and local NHS organisations.”

About the role of Dean of BSMS
The purpose of the role of Dean is to provide clear academic leadership to BSMS through effective and efficient management of the School to deliver its mission and strategic aims. The Dean is also expected to contribute to the delivery of the ambitions of the NHS in Sussex, working within NHS primary care.

As Dean, Richard will be accountable to the BSMS Joint Board, co-chaired by the VCs, which has oversight of the mission, strategic aims, and overall performance of the School. He will be responsible for all members of clinical academic, academic and Professional Services staff within the School. He will be a member of the Heads of School Group and University and Academic Leadership Forums of the University of Sussex, and a member of the Academic Leadership Group and Academic Board at the University of Brighton. BSMS will be part of the new Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine at the University of Sussex.

Malcolm Reed retires on 31 July, and Professor Gordon Ferns will act as Interim Dean until Richard starts on 2 September.