Professor Mahendra Patel, Vice President of RCPharm, has been included in the Health Service Journal’s ranking of the 75 most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic people working in health.
His place on the list reflects his contribution to health equity and more inclusive research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Patel helped broaden recruitment to the Principle and Panoramic trials, encouraging greater involvement from communities that have historically been underrepresented in clinical research. That work informed the establishment of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford, where he serves as founding director.
He said: “I am very honoured to be included in this year’s HSJ list. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of colleagues, partners and communities across the country who have worked tirelessly to improve health equity and ensure more people can benefit from research and healthcare innovations.
“I am particularly proud of the progress being made across pharmacy, which continues to play a vital role in addressing health inequalities and improving outcomes for patients and communities.”
Professor Patel has partnered with government research and development departments in Wales and Northern Ireland, and as Distinguished Visiting Professor at IIT Bombay, to advance equitable participation in research.
In 2025, the Royal College of General Practitioners awarded him an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his leadership and his work on health inequalities.
Beyond research, his work has focused on improving inclusion within the professions and strengthening collaboration between different disciplines and areas of healthcare.
HSJ’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic 75 aims to identify people expected to have a positive impact on the English NHS and health policy during the 12 months after judging, covering July 2026 to June 2027.
