Join the BMA EDI group

Doctors determined to make a difference to equality and inclusion at the BMA are encouraged to put themselves forward for membership of the association’s EDI advisory group.

Association members eager to share their skills and lived experience to support the work of the advisory group should register their interest to become part of the 2025-27 session without delay.

Membership of the group, which provides expert advice and guidance aimed at improving equality, diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the BMA’s work, is open to all BMA members, with those selected serving a two-year term.

Made up of up to 20 BMA members and meeting regularly throughout the year, the advisory group seeks to ensure the association’s workplace culture, actions and policy priorities meet the needs of its large and incredibly diverse membership.

In recent years it has contributed to a number of areas of BMA work including addressing the gender pay gap and sexism in medicine, challenging racism in healthcare, widening participation and supporting IMGs (international medical graduates).

The group is chaired by BMA representative body chair Latifa Patel whose tenure will come to an end later this year.

Dr Patel said championing and defending the values of EDI were critical to ensuring the BMA and wider medical profession could effectively serve the needs of everyone.

She said: ‘It has been an enormous source of pride to serve as the chair of this vital advisory group and to be able to see the positive difference our work has been able to make for thousands of our members.

‘Equality and fairness and striving to promote equity and inclusion might sometimes seem like abstract ideas, yet in truth they are fundamental and critically important principles that affect all of us.

‘If nothing else, failing to promote equality, and equity and inclusion within our association and our health service ultimately means we risk discriminating against, alienating and even losing friends and colleagues, whose contributions are invaluable to the BMA and the NHS. Furthermore, this impact on an already brittle NHS workforce, risks patient safety.’

To find out more about the advisory group, role profiles and how to register your interest, visit the BMA website

For any questions, contact the corporate EDI team at corporate.edi@bma.org.uk