Celebrating Our Medical Education Managers – MEM of the Year Nominations

Following last week's Medical Educator Awards, hosted by Medical Education Leaders UK, we are proud to recognise the Medical Education Managers who were nominated by their Trusts for the Medical Education Manager of the Year award.

This is the first award ever to be announced under this category, which we were delighted to support.

These nominations reflect the outstanding contributions, dedication, and impact each of these individuals have made within their organisations. Being nominated is a true testament to the vital role they play in supporting medical education and shaping the future of healthcare.

Out of 13 shortlisted nominations, we are thrilled to share that Angela Pendleton, from Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, was awarded the top prize. Angela’s achievement is not only a recognition of her exceptional work but also a point of pride for our community. As our newly appointed Council Member representing Kent, Surrey & Sussex, the only way is up from here!

Congratulations to all our nominees – your commitment does not go unnoticed.

Now, it's time to learn a little more about Angela, her career within the NHS, and what led to her well-deserved nomination and win. Her journey and dedication to medical education exemplify the very best of our profession, and we’re proud to shine a spotlight on her achievements.

In her speech, Angela emphasised that “The MEM role is a vast one and we are expected to be knowledgeable in all areas of Medical Education. Every MEM I have ever encountered works extremely hard, so this award goes out to all the MEMs out there. You are all doing a fantastic job”!

Angela began her career with the NHS, in May 2005. According to her nominee, she plays a key role in supporting the professional growth of members in the Medical Education Team, many of whom have either finished or are currently engaged in apprenticeships or degree programmes. Thanks to her guidance, several team members have moved up to higher banded positions. Currently, Angela is pursuing an MSC in Medical Education at the University of Kent.

She has been involved in Quality Improvement initiatives and has inspired her team to participate in similar projects, which are anticipated to produce many posters this year. Angela is the NAMEM rep for Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, and is also a key member of the Kent Humanities Network. She plays a crucial role in running medical teaching and Trust events for both postgraduate and undergraduate programmes, including efforts to address differential attainment. Angela also supports resident doctors in meeting their curriculum requirements, helping them progress in their training and achieve greater expertise.

Additionally, she helps provide high-quality continuous professional development opportunities for Consultants, SAS and LED doctors. The Trust ranked 44th out of 204 NHS trusts for overall satisfaction in the GMC survey and was 4th in the KSS region in 2024.

Angela is a strong advocate for the Trust and has spoken at the Trust's Medical Education Showcase events, emphasising the role of Medical Education Teams. She excels in promoting the Trust through social media and at different events and career fairs, significantly contributing to medical recruitment initiatives.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to highlight each of our nominees in more detail. Their dedication deserves recognition not only within the medical education community but also among our wider network of colleagues and partners. We believe their contributions should be celebrated as widely as possible.