The Council of Deans of Health has officially launched its new Aspiring Deans Leadership Programme, bringing together the next generation of academic leaders in health education.

The first cohort for the programme met for the first time in London last week for an introductory welcome event. It marked the start of a year-long programme designed to support academic leaders preparing to step into dean-level roles across health and care education.

Participants were welcomed by the Council of Deans of Health’s Chief Executive, Chair and Vice-Chair, alongside members of the Council staff team. The opening session provided an overview of the programme, its aims and structure, and an opportunity for participants to begin building relationships with peers facing similar leadership journeys.

The day covered a range of key topics shaping contemporary leadership in health education. Sessions included Healthcare Education and the Council: Political and Policy Landscape, led by the Council’s Director of Policy and External Affairs, which explored the external environment influencing health education and the role of the Council within it. Professor Marc Griffiths led a session on Leadership in Health Education: The Contemporary Context, with a strong focus on the importance of inclusive leadership. The programme also addressed the value of networking, engagement, and collaboration in senior academic roles.

Following the launch event, participants will move into the next stages of the programme, which include one-to-one mentoring with a Council member, collaborative group projects and a series of training modules. These modules will focus on practical leadership skills such as building a professional profile, networking and influencing, strategic thinking and budgeting.

The programme reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to developing leadership capacity across health and care education.