Nikita Kanani
Nikita Kanani MBE is a general practitioner and the former chief clinical officer of the Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group. In 2018 she became the first woman to be director of primary care of the English National Health Service.Education
In 2000, Kanani spent a year on an intercalated neuroscience degree. She graduated from King's College London with a degree in medicine in 2004. She received an MSc in healthcare commissioning from the University of Birmingham and a postgraduate certificate in managing in health and social care.Career
Kanani "wants to help provide the time and support for GPs and others working in primary care to develop and improve the services that practices provide". In 2017 she was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours. With her sister Sheila Kanani she set up STEMMsisters, which empowers people from disadvantaged backgrounds to study science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine subjects and access mentoring and coaching opportunities. She is co-chair of The Network, an online community connecting medical students, doctors and other healthcare professionals. She is a member of the King's Fund General Advisory Group.
She is a general practitioner physician at Bellegrove Surgery in Welling. She is a Clinical Commissioning Champion for the Royal College of General Practitioners. In 2012 and 2013 she was selected by Pulse magazine as a "top up and coming GP". She was named by the Health Service Journal as a "rising star" - an award which celebrates the healthcare leaders of tomorrow and influencers of today.
Kanani is a strong believer in embracing social media within medicine. She is the lead of Quality Improvement at the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. She was appointed the NHS Director of Primary Care in August 2018.
