By The Obnews Editorial Team
Professor Dame Parveen June Kumar, one of the United Kingdom’s most respected Indian origin medical leaders, has been awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in King Charles III’s 2026 Birthday Honours.
The honour, known as GBE, is the highest rank within the Order of the British Empire. Professor Kumar has been recognized for her services to global medical education and health.
Professor Kumar is Emerita Professor of Medicine and Education at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. She is widely known as a leading gastroenterologist, medical educator and mentor to generations of doctors.
One of her most influential contributions is the globally used textbook Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine, which she co founded and authored. The book has become a major learning resource for medical students and doctors around the world.
Her public service has extended far beyond teaching and clinical medicine. According to the UK government honours citation, she has co chaired the BMJ Commission for the Future of the NHS, served as ambassador to the UK Health Alliance for Climate Change, supported Genomics England’s Access Review Committee and contributed to the UK Uyghur Tribunal.
She has also served as President of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, President of the Royal Society of Medicine and held senior educational roles with the Royal College of Physicians. Her work has supported doctors in distress, expanded global health education and strengthened medical training.
Professor Kumar said she was delighted and humbled to be recognized, adding that she remains passionate about medical education, global health and improving how future generations of doctors are trained.
The Obnews Editorial Team congratulates Professor Dame Parveen Kumar on this historic recognition. Her achievement is a proud moment for the Indian diaspora and a powerful example of how South Asian excellence continues to shape medicine, education and public service around the world.
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