Barts Health consultant awarded top King's Birthday Honour
A former Barts Health NHS Trust consultant has been recognised in The King’s Birthday Honours 2026.
Professor Dame Parveen Kumar, Emerita Professor of Medicine and Education at Queen Mary University of London, has been awarded a Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for services to global medical education and health.
A graduate of St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, Professor Dame Kumar worked in the NHS for 40 years, including at Barts Health NHS Trust as a consultant gastroenterologist, combining clinical practice with research into small bowel disorders such as coeliac disease.
Speaking on her recognition in the King’s Honours list, Parveen said:
“I am delighted and humbled to be recognised in The King’s Birthday Honours list. I am passionate about medical education and global health and ensuring that we continuously evolve and improve how we educate future generations of doctors. This recognition also belongs to the medical school and my colleagues and friends who have supported me over the years. Thank you all.”
Also recognised is Paul Rawlinson, former Chair of Barts Charity, who has been awarded an MBE for Services to Health Sector Charities.
Paul spent 10 years with Barts Charity, including five years as Chair, helping strengthen the charity’s partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry to improve health outcomes across east London.
He said:
“I am humbled to be recognised in the King’s birthday honours list. It was a privilege to spend 10 years working with the team at Barts Charity, the last five of these as Chair. The Charity exists to work with Barts Health NHS Trust and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, and support them in their efforts to improve health outcomes for people in East London. It was an honour to help, and incredibly rewarding to put all my years of experience to such a worthwhile challenge.”
The awards recognise the significant contributions both Professor Dame Kumar and Paul Rawlinson have made to improving health outcomes, supporting patients and communities, and strengthening healthcare across east London and beyond.