Dr Ranee Thakar has been elected as the next President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and will take up office in December 2022.
Ranee Thakar is a Consultant Obstetrician and Urogynaecologist at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at St George’s University of London. Ranee has been Vice President of Global Health at the RCOG since December 2019, is co-chair of the College’s Race Equality Taskforce and has been a member of the RCOG Council since 2016. She is past President of the International Urogynecological Association and leads the national obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) Care Bundle Project. Regionally, Ranee leads the Perinatal Pelvic Health Project and Urogynaecology network for South-West London, developing multi-disciplinary collaboration with urologists, midwives, physiotherapists, nurses and GPs.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr Thakar, said:
“I am honoured to be elected the next President of the RCOG by the Fellows and Members of our College in the UK and Ireland. I look forward to further progressing the College’s mission to improve women’s health globally and continuing its essential work to tackle inequalities in healthcare.
“As President, I will work closely with our members, listen to the voices and experiences of women and work with policy makers to improve the quality and safety of maternity and gynaecological care provided in this country and around the world. I will also ensure the College continues to provide excellence in training and education and remains a powerful advocate for women and their families.
“Over the next six months I will work closely with the current President, Vice Presidents and our fantastic staff to continue their great work before becoming President in December.”
Welcoming the appointment, RCOG President Dr Edward Morris, said:
“I am delighted that Ranee has been elected to lead our College and be an ambassador for the global community of obstetricians and gynaecologists. Ranee is a clinician and medical leader of outstanding calibre and her experience will be invaluable to the College and the profession as she leads our work to advance the science and practice of O&G and champion women’s health.
“I am confident Ranee will work hard over her tenure to ensure the care provided to women is of the highest quality, that our workforce is fully supported and that the College’s influence as a global leader for women’s health and reproductive healthcare is strengthened.
“We were pleased with the turnout in this election and I’m hugely grateful to all those who voted for our new President.”
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Learn more about the RCOG’s new President-Elect, and the RCOG Elections.
Dr Ranee Thakar was made President-elect of the RCOG following a vote which was open to over 7,000 UK and Ireland Fellows and Members. This was the second time in its history the RCOG has extended voting in the Presidential Election to the broader UK and Ireland membership - previously the President was elected by voting members of the RCOG Council only.
Ranee will take up her appointment at the Admission Ceremony for new RCOG Officers on Friday 9 December 2022. New Vice Presidents will be elected in September and will also take office in December. The term of office for the RCOG President and Vice Presidents is three years.
Dr Thakar completed her basic medical training in India prior to moving to the UK to complete her specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology. Dr Thakar will become the 32nd College President since the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists was founded in 1929. She is the third female President of the College after Dame Hilda Lloyd 1949-1952 and Professor Dame Lesley Regan 2016-2019.
Read more about the history of the RCOG.
For further information, please contact the RCOG Press Office on +44 (0)7740 175342 or email pressoffice@rcog.org.uk