Paul Baker

Paul Baker developed a strong interest in medical education during his time as an RCP tutor and was part of the inaugural cohort of students undertaking the MA in Teaching and Learning in the Clinical Setting at Edge Hill University. He was later appointed Postgraduate Clinical Tutor for Bolton, where he helped pioneer FY2 pilot programmes prior to the formal rollout of Foundation training across the UK.
Paul served as a Consultant Geriatrician at Bolton for 25 years. Unusually, his early career included training as a GP in Cheetham Hill—then known as a GP registrar—and he is among the few hospital consultants to have passed the MRCGP examination.
As Chair of the Specialty Training Committee (STC) in Geriatric Medicine, Paul founded the MSc in Geriatric Medicine at Salford University—a unique, workplace-based Master’s programme that replaced the Deanery’s teaching programme for the specialty. He also chaired the national Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) for Geriatric Medicine for seven years.
In 2006, Paul was appointed Foundation School Director for the North West, now one of the largest Foundation Schools in the country. Covering regions from Barrow-in-Furness to Derbyshire, the Pennines, and the Wirral, the school supports approximately 2,000 trainees across 20 programmes.
His special interests include quality assurance of training, the teaching of empathy, and the promotion of compassionate leadership.