Contact Us | East of England

Clinical Leadership Team

Primary Care Dean

Head of School for General Practice

I moved to the East of England to study and 25 years later I've made it my home. I work as a GP in Bedford and combine that with my role as Head of School of General Practice. Having held roles as a GP trainer, Programme Director and Associate Dean roles in GP recruitment and Differential Attainment I have particular interests in the selection and recruitment of GP trainees, as well as how we can support International doctors to thrive within the NHS.

Dr Ayesha TuZahra

Head of School for General Practice

Ayesha is a GP Ipswich. She has a passion for training and supporting primary care learners including GP trainees, ACPs, FCP and NMPs. Ayesha has had many roles in primary care school and local leadership roles within the ICB. She now doing a job share with Dr Paul Wright as a head of school. Ayesha is leading Quality, Placement capacity, expansion working with the six ICB 's training hubs and supporting wider workforce support. Her interests includes cooking and baking though not yet made to Master chef!

Associate Deans

Patch and Workforce Associate Deans

Dr Antonio Munno

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

I am a GP at the King Street Surgery in Kempston, Bedford and have been a GP trainer for over 20 years and Associate GP Dean since 2018. In my AD role, I support the two GP training schemes in Bedfordshire ( Luton and Bedford) and work closely with the BLMK Training Hub to support both GPs and the wider workforce in primary care.I am also an undergraduate educator at the Clinical School in Cambridge.

Dr Camilla Tilbury

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

I am a GP and GP Trainer in St Neots. I have always enjoyed training and supporting primary care learners and became a GP trainer as soon as I could after qualifying. Along with my role as a GP I am also the Associate GP Dean for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough having previously been the Training Programme Director for West Cambridgeshire. Outside of the scheme I enjoy walking up as many hills and mountains as I can with my dog which is rather challenging living in Cambridgeshire.

Dr Emma Salik

Herts and West Essex

I qualified as a General Practitioner in 2003, working as a principal until 2012. My interest in education and training began during my time as a GP trainee (AiT). After qualifying, I served as an Academic Fellow at University College London (UCL) until 2009, alongside a role as a locum Training Programme Director (TPD) for the Central Herts GP Training Scheme, which became a permanent position in 2005. I also qualified as a GP Trainer that year.

Since 2019, I have been an Associate Dean, working on the International GP Recruitment (IGPR) scheme, returner, and retainer schemes. Although the IGPR scheme concluded in 2024, it provided invaluable experience that I hope to carry forward in supporting international medical graduates. I also serve as one of the Patch Associate Deans for Hertfordshire and West Essex.

Dr Zia Yaqub

Herts and West Essex

Dr Sunil Gupta (Patch)

Dr Jonathan Rouse (Workforce)

Mid and South Essex

Dr Cathryn Ruddock

Norfolk and Waveney

Cathryn is a GP working in South Norfolk. She previously worked as a TPD in Norwich taking up the post of Associate Dean in May 2021 . She is a graduate from UEA's first cohort of medical students and completed GP training on the Norwich STS. Prior to being a doctor she was a Senior lecturer in District Nursing and a District Nurse and has a wealth of experience of health care provision in the community setting. Outside of the scheme she is married and has 2 grown up sons as well as 2 step children. Her interests include diving, gardening and swimming.

Dr Jane Hill (Patch)

Dr Rebecca Cummins-Lagden (Workforce)

Suffolk and North East Essex

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Functional Associate Deans

Dr Brendon O'Leary

Associate GP Dean - Faculty and Fellowships

Brendon has been involved in medical education for many years, beginning with organising mock exams as a house officer. After teaching Anatomy at the University of Bristol, he trained in general practice and became a Training Programme Director.

Since moving to Cambridge in 2012, he has served as a TPD in Bury St Edmunds and as an Associate Dean helped to develop the School of Primary Care's online transition during the Covid pandemic. He has interests in developing the technology of education, multiprofessional training and in educator training. He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of GPs in 2018 for his work in quality assurance of training posts and in supporting GP trainees through difficulties. Brendon works as a GP Trainer in Granta Medical Practices near Cambridge and serves as Head of School for the Enhance Programme, where he develops multidisciplinary generalist training for early career health professionals.

As part of the School of Primary Care, he is responsible for Faculty matters, including educator training and resource provision for TPDs in the East of England. His responsibilities also involve the organisation of regional training events, new GP educator training, and the oversight of Primary Care Fellowships."

Brendon lives in Cambridge with his family. He may be caught absent-mindedly humming the tunes to children’s television shows when he forgets he’s still at work.

Dr Avanti Sulakshana

Associate GP Dean - Exam Support

Dr Sunil Gupta

Associate GP Dean - International Medical Graduate Support

Dr Jonathan Rouse

Associate GP Dean - Quality and Differential Attainment

Associate GP Dean - Assessment Lead

Having qualified as a GP in 2004 I became a partner in Hullbridge, Essex, where I continue to practice today. I started my educational career teaching medical students from St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London Medical School and then became an associate trainer in 2005. I subsequently became a full trainer in 2009 and a Training Programme Director in Southend in 2013 before becoming an AD in 2019, initially as a patch AD for Harlow and Southend and latterly as the AD for Quality, Assessment, and Workforce for Mid and South Essex. I lead on Urgent and Unscheduled Care for the Primary Care School for my sins. By marriage I also have the title of honorary prince of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Uganda and when I'm not working, I enjoy bicycle racing around the various crit circuits of the Eastern Region.

Dr Abigail Taylor

Associate Postgraduate GP Dean for Recruitment and Digital Learning

Associate Postgraduate Dean for Supporting Flexibility in Training

I am a GP in Bedford. Having been a Cambridge then Bedford TPD, I took on central TPD roles in blended learning and differential attainment. Currently, I combine my clinical GP role with my AD roles in the GP school and wider deanery. Since 2021, I have also been a PSW clinical case manager and I am a GP appraiser, with a passion for maintaining and improving the wellbeing of doctors. I have a very keen interest in computers and technology, both professionally and outside work and I enjoy attempting over ambitious DIY projects.

Training Programme Directors and School Administrators

The names and email addresses of the Training Programme Directors and GP Specialty Training Administrators can be found here,

Primary Care Central Administration Team

For all General Practice Trainee and Primary Care queries, please email england.primarycare.eoe@nhs.net

Miss Rebecca Winchester

01223 596 959

Primary Care Senior Manager

Miss Georgia Seaton

01223 596 684

Primary Care Account Manager

Miss Sophia Apicella

01223 596912