Professor Pali Hungin – OBE DL MD FRCP FRCGP FRSA

Advisory Council

Former President, British Medical Association. He completed his tenure in June 2017.

Professor Hungin has a career as a GP and in clinical research, particularly into the early diagnosis of long term conditions. He was the Foundation Dean of Medicine at Durham University and Professor of Primary Care and General Practice. He combines perspectives from both primary and secondary care as well as academia. He was a founding member of the UK and European Primary Care Societies for Gastroenterology and helped to instigate research networks in the UK.

He was appointed Professor of General Practice and Primary Care at Durham University in 1998. He became their Foundation Dean of Medicine and the Head of School in 2002, building a department that encompassed undergraduate medicine, pharmacy, the medical humanities, and health policy and health services research.

Pali was responsible for initiating the research support networking movement in the UK, initially in primary care, and led the NHS Research and Development Forum (England) to 2006.  His research interests are centred on the earlier diagnosis of long-term conditions and barriers to evidence-based implementation. He has over 150 peer reviewed publications and has served in a number of privileged positions such as with the Italian Medicines Agency, the Central Research Ethics Advisory Group of Unilever plc, the NIHR, MHRA and the Scientific Board and Council of the United European Gastroenterology Federation. He was a founding member of the UK and European Primary Care Societies for Gastroenterology and is a trustee and the treasurer of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.

Pali, an early recipient of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Research Fellowship, has been recognized with several awards including the North American Primary Care Research Group Practitioner Award and the John Fry and Pickles medals of the College. In 2000 he received an OBE for services to research and in 2008 became Deputy Lieutenant for County Durham.