Introduction

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted yet again the need for global cooperation to limit the spread of infection and optimise the outcome of any vaccination programme. Effective medical leadership is crucial in both the coordination of national and global responses to meet the challenges of delivering successful patient outcomes and maintaining a healthy population. The recognition of the need to professionalise medical leadership capability is fundamental to achieving this ambition. Within the UK, the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) was established by the Academy of Royal Colleges of the UK 10 years ago in response to concerns over the quality of medical leadership and its effect on the quality of patient care. FMLM’s vision is to inspire and promote excellence in medical leadership to drive continuous improvement in health and healthcare in the UK. It is therefore timely during our 10th year anniversary to consider the impact that FMLM is having in meeting its fundamental aims. Future articles will assess the impact of FMLM’s support for research to enhance medical leadership, the impact of FMLM’s delivered leadership development programmes and the success of the National Clinical Fellows scheme in promoting the ideals of medical leadership among the trainee population.

In this article I will consider the importance of membership and fellowship of the faculty in the UK in these unprecedented times where strong medical leadership is vital. …