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A recognised international champion of healthcare quality, patient safety and public health. A former vice-chair of the World Health Organisation’s executive board. He is the World Health Organisation’s envoy for patient safety and chairman of the independent monitoring board for the Polio Eradication Programme. Previously he was the chief medical officer for England and the UK’s chief medical adviser, from 1998-2010. In the 1980s and 1990s he was regional director for public health and regional manager of the former northern regional health authority.

Sam was appointed as chief executive in January 2022 ahead of the ICB becoming a statutory organisation in April 2022.

In addition to her NHS career, which spans more than 30 years, Sam is also the National Director for Management and Leadership at NHS England and Chair of the Health and Care Women Leaders Network for the NHS Confederation.