11 July 2008
Three months after being appointed, Epsom and St Helier's top doctor, Dr Jonathan Kwan, has officially started work. Dr Kwan, who was appointed Medical Director in April, is a consultant who specialises in treating patients with kidney problems and replaces Dr Lindy Steven who was in post for seven years.
Dr Kwan has been at the Trust since 1994 and as Medical Director he is responsible for providing professional leadership and direction to the Trust's medical staff, including all doctors, consultants and surgeons. He is also the Director with responsibility for the prevention and control of infections and, with the Director of Nursing, is responsible for clinical governance, i.e. making sure the Trust is providing patients with the safest possible services.
Dr Kwan graduated in the early 1980s from King's College Hospital Medical School. From there, he trained at various teaching hospitals across London including King's College, St George's and the Royal London hospitals.
Dr Kwan was appointed as a consultant at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust in 1994, Clinical Director for Renal Services in 1999 and Director of Acute Services in 2007. He has been active in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and is an honorary senior lecturer in medicine at St George's Hospital Medical School. He is also an honorary consultant nephrologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Kwan has won a number of accolades for his work since starting at the Trust, including 'Hospital Doctor of Year in Innovation' in 2004 and runner-up in 'Hospital Doctor of Year (Renal)' in 2007.
Dr Kwan has also been heavily involved in research, acting as a trustee and scientific advisor to the South Thames Institute for Renal Research at St Helier Hospital and has published many papers.
Commenting on his new role, Dr Kwan said: "I am very pleased and excited about my appointment and am looking forward to working with committed teams of staff, to support them in their clinical practice and to continue to develop and improve our medical standards."
Chief Executive, Samantha Jones, said: "I am delighted Dr Kwan has been appointed as our new medical director. His leadership skills, coupled with his medical career will be a strong addition to the Trust Board."
Ms Jones added: "I would like to thank Dr Steven who has done an amazing job as medical director over the past seven years and who has been an inspiration to not only the medical workforce, but to all staff."
Dr Kwan has completed two marathons recently and has raised in excess of £100,000 for kidney research.
