A look back at Professor Nirmal Kumar’s presidency
06 April 2022
(Last updated: 7 Apr 2022 11:37)
The presidential handover at the ENT UK Spring Meeting this Friday will mark the end of Professor Nirmal Kumar’s presidency. Professor Kumar’s tenure as President of ENT UK has seen considerable development for the association and a raft of remarkable achievements, despite the turbulence of the past two years.
Chief among these has been the leadership he demonstrated at the outset of the Covid pandemic. Marshalling ENT UK’s resources, Professor Kumar worked with members, executives, and colleagues outside the organisation to oversee a coordinated and dynamic response to the crisis. Under his direction, ENT UK disseminated daily information and guidance, successfully lobbied Public Health England to improve PPE requirements and played a vital role in persuading the Government to recognise anosmia as a Covid symptom. (You can view our video outlining these achievements here.) ENT UK guidance was followed closely by many allied specialty associations in the UK and around the world. These efforts were recognised last year when ENT UK won the Association Excellence Award for ‘Best Membership Support During Covid-19’ and was shortlisted finalist for ‘Best Lobbying Campaign’.
The judicious leadership with which he met the crisis was reflected when trustees voted to extend his presidency beyond the usual two-year term to three years. Throughout the first waves of the pandemic, Professor Kumar made himself personally available to any ENT UK members and professionals wishing to discuss their queries and concerns.
The membership grew considerably throughout Professor Kumar’s tenure as the association developed in new directions. He oversaw the establishment of the ENT UK Foundation and expansion of the ENT UK grants and fellowships, cultivating the next generation of ENT healthcare professionals and helping drive the specialty forward. His term was marked by innovations improving membership benefits and experience – not least, ensuring all members can access first-rate indemnity cover, as well as the recent major overhaul of the ENT UK website.
During Professor Kumar’s presidency, ENT UK was able to deliver a successful and innovative BACO International despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic. He was instrumental in the association forging international links with ENT professionals around the world. Following reforms he and trustees implemented within ENT UK’s governance structures, Professor Kumar leaves the association on an increasingly sound financial footing.
Professor Kumar writes: “Looking back at the tumultuous three years during which I have been President of ENT UK, I could never have predicted when I started my term what we would go through as a specialty. However, I can say with great pride that we came together as one and, with our collective strengths, we weathered the storm. I am ever so grateful to the staff, executives and trustees of ENT UK, and to all the members who contributed so much to make my term as President a very productive one. I thank you all!
We are now in an exciting phase of growth for our specialty, our membership, and the patients we serve, both here in the UK and around the world.”
Incoming ENT UK President, Mr Andrew Swift, has added the following: “It has been an absolute pleasure to support Nirmal during his presidency of ENT UK. The President’s role has, as ever, included many significant events, especially with the crisis that accompanied the early days of the pandemic. Nirmal has demonstrated his amazing leadership skills throughout and maintained a high degree of professionalism. He has dealt with adverse circumstances calmly, almost with enthusiasm, creating inclusive teams and achieving their goals in every case. It has been an incredible experience to work as part of his team, and I am so pleased that he has agreed to stay on as Chair of the ENT UK Foundation. Many congratulations, Nirmal, on being such a fantastic President!”