New Head and Deputy Head of School for North Wales Medical School

Stephen brings extensive academic and leadership experience from both the UK and abroad, including in roles as diverse as Head of School, Vice-Provost for Teaching & Learning, and President & CEO. He has played a key role in developing Bangor’s new Pharmacy programme and is currently the interim Head of the Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT). 

Nia, an academic GP, joined Bangor three years ago from the University of Manchester School of Medicine, one of the largest medical schools in the UK. She took on the new medicine programme lead role in 2022 and has been instrumental in strengthening the relationship with the General Medical Council (GMC). Nia was crucial to the delivery of the Cardiff ‘C21 North’ franchised medicine programme and in developing Bangor’s independent medicine programme launched last semester. Nia works clinically one day each week at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, based in the Rapid Diagnosis Clinic, where she manages urgent-suspected cancer patients.  

Stephen commented, “I am delighted to be taking on this opportunity at an exciting time as we develop and expand the North Wales Medical School. We have amazing staff and students whose enthusiasm and drive will help us and will enable us to assist with the University’s strategic growth and development. Our growing research and high tariff teaching portfolios provide a superb foundation for future expansion and community impact.” 

Nia added, "I am proud to be leading the new, innovative Bangor Medicine programme. I am excited to work alongside enthusiastic, passionate, and diverse colleagues, both within the University and in clinical settings across North Wales within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and primary care. Building on the strengths of our existing trailblazing C21North Medicine programme will ensure that we continue to develop and deliver the highest quality of medical education to benefit the communities of North Wales.” 

Professor Mike Larvin, , said, “It has been a privilege to work with both Stephen and Nia over the first year of operation of the new North Wales Medical School. They have worked energetically to lay solid foundations for the School with a rapid growth in new programmes, including Medicine and Pharmacy, as well as strongly supporting our existing portfolio of programmes and research. We are extremely fortunate to have appointed them competitively to their new leadership roles, and I look forward to continuing to work with them within the College of Medicine and Health.”