NEXT GEN NABS: SIMON GREGORY

What is your biggest challenge?

Meeting the increasing GP recruitment targets whilst continuing to reform GP Specialty Training. We have some really exciting changes coming.

What’s the best leadership/career advice you’ve ever recieved?

“Keep your integrity and others will come back to you in the end.”

Who have your role models been?

I’d like to highlight 3 (though there have been many more and I hope that no one will be upset): David Tweddle – Mr. Tweddle was my form teacher at school. He believed that I could become a doctor and supported me but also, because he was such a generous, kind and gentle man.

Catti Moss – Catti was my GP Trainer. She was a brilliant trainer and a great and much-loved GP. In my first tutorial she shared that my training would be about the art of being a GP. We didn’t do too many clinical tutorials as we’d both read books and then spend a tutorial recalling our reading.

Derek Gallen – Derek gave me my first job in healthcare education, he taught me the importance of professionalising what we do and also of spending time looking after staff and colleagues.

What has been the proudest moment of your career to date?

Sorry, I know that people will groan, but, it was getting my MRCGP. I wanted to be a GP from age 11 so felt I had reached the peak of Everest. But, also, as I see the College as important to support the values and the unique nature of our specialty. Also as I was lucky to live to receive it as I get so stressed by exam’s that after the oral exams in the Long Room at 14 Princes Gate I walked out as straight into the traffic and I have no idea how the black cab stopped; but I did learn some new words from him.

What have you learned about yourself in lockdown?

COVID-19 has made me focus on our mortality and the importance of time with and valuing family and friends. I have a renewed sense of what is important to me, and more importantly, what is not.

What are you reading at the moment? ……and (no judgement) the last film you watched..

I always have 2 books on the go, one fiction and one non-fiction. The current two are Double Agent by Tom Bradbury and Invisible Women: Exposing data bias in a world designed for men. The last film I watched was Bombshell.

NEXT GEN NABS: SONALI KINRA

I moved to London just before the COVID pandemic struck and since then led the COVID preparation and response within the practice for the past 4 months. I am driven by change management processes and have been able to lead and deliver on six change management processes including daily huddles, total triage, introducing e-consult to name a few. These processes are fully embedded in practice and to see it enhance patient experience and staff well-being is most fulfilling.

What is your biggest challenge?

As GP Retention Lead my biggest challenge is to ensure that the voices of those who are marginalised are truly represented and heard. Whether this has been about shining the light on the richness of thought and experience of Mid –Career GPs, those returning to work after maternity/caring responsibility, the diversity of BAME workforce and our unsung heroes General Practice Nursing. My other personal challenge is to learn sometimes to curtail my enthusiasm. My professional and personal life ripples through with no boundaries which can be enriching yet exhausting at times.

Who do you look up to? 

Growing up my mother has been a role model for us. My mother was a teacher in a University College in India. She balanced raising three children with her professional role and never once complained about it. I guess it’s hard to name just one person as I would hope to imbibe different skills from different people. Amitabh Bachchan, the BBC actor of the millennium for his dynamic persona /oratory skills, Indira Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo for her leadership, Atul Gawande, Surgeon, Public health advocate for his ability to unite the professional world with his writings on empathy, the humility of Samantha Jones, the energy within Bob Klaber and last but not the least the ever personable Nikki Kanani.

What would you like to achieve by the end of your career?

It is important to me that I provide the best care to my patients and am invested in staff wellbeing. I would like to end marginalisation of groups and reduce the injustices faced across the population and workforce. This may seem like a tall order but I remain hopeful.

What have you learned about yourself in lockdown?

Practice makes perfect. No place for shortcuts! I am getting better at planks. I was really bad at Scrabble. My sisters have constantly been beating me on the game. Soon the tide may turn. People energise me and emotional connection keeps me grounded.

What are you reading at the moment?……and (no judgement) the last film you watched..

The online medium has certainly shortened my attention span. Conscious of this, I have set myself an achievable target of reading poetry every night from the book ‘Poem for every night of the year’ by Allie Esiri. This is a brilliant collection of English poetry. Reading this helps me find reason and stay calm. I haven’t been able to watch movies lately but thanks to Netflix and Amazon Prime and the numerous drama series to view. I recently completed watching an English language Indian drama series called ‘Made in Heaven’ directed by Zoya Akhtar. She is a celebrated, contemporary film director in Asia. This is an enlightening nine part series cleverly navigating the vagaries/complexities of human relationships seen through prism of grandiose Indian weddings.

What’s the best leadership/career advice that you’ve ever recieved?

That leadership is more about what you say, how you behave and the relationships you build than it is about holding any role or title. This leads me to choose roles where I am happy and where I can make a difference rather than seeking the next step “up” in my career. There are times when a step down or sideways is a step forwards in career progression and fulfillment.

Who do you look up to? 

I do not think I can name a person for this question. I suppose I look up to certain qualities I see in people rather than necessarily to a person. I look up to honesty, compassion, collaboration, and confidence. I look up to social ease and that ability some people have, to speak to strangers as if they are old friends. I look up to bravery and a willingness to stand up for what you believe in whether it turns out to be right or wrong. By this I mean that people I look up to are not necessarily those in leadership positions but rather, those who show these qualities; be they national leaders, mums at the school gates, trainees, or patients.

What would you like to achieve by the end of your career?

The honest answer to this is I do not have a plan, I used to worry about that and spend time and energy trying to make one and then the next opportunity would come along and be unrelated to the plan but exciting and the plan would change. I have changed the focus and what I want to achieve is to have taken the opportunities as they present and used them to make the most positive difference that I can considering my skills and interests. I would also love to have achieved making a difference to future generations of doctors. I strongly believe that if we can make being a doctor more satisfying, more flexible and more fun this will improve patient care

What is something that people often get wrong about you?

I think the thing people are wrong about most often is that I am too busy. Yes of course I am busy; I think most doctors are. I like being productive and making the most of my time. Multiple roles, young children, and a lack of effort to apply make-up all add to the impression of being busy. I am not though too busy to offer advice or support to a colleague, friend or family member who needs it. Nor am I too busy to take on a new role or project that really excites me.

What’s the last show that you binged and loved?

Grey’s anatomy while trying to avoid revision for finals at medical school and claiming it might count in some way. In more recent years my TV watching has been more paw patrol, operation ouch and horrible histories than anything I can claim to actually “love”. Child free time is precious these days and it would be almost unheard of for me to use it watching TV.

Who are your dream dinner party guests?

For pure pleasure, my friends, many of who I would love to see more of. If I were after someone notable, I think Dawn French would be great fun and if looking beyond the realms of reality then Dumbledore, Frodo and Matilda would be up there too. For more serious focus, end of life care is my passion and Julian Abel and Allan Kellehear are inspirational in compassionate approaches to this.

What’s a snapshot of a moment in your life that brings you real joy?

What brings me most real joy are my two boys and my absolute favorite moments are the ones where they find joy in each other, in being outside and in being free. I love seeing them get excited about cycling through ditches, jumping over waves, or managing to climb a tree.