Specialty and Specialist Doctors Conference 2026 Resources 

Welcome to the Specialty and Specialist Doctors Conference 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you to Birmingham on Friday 15 May.

thestudio,
7 Cannon Street
Birmingham B2 5EP

By train: There are three railway stations within walking distance of thestudio: Birmingham New Street, Snow Hill and Moor Street. New Street Station is just two minutes walk from thestudio.

By car/parking: As this is a city centre venue there is no onsite parking, although we would recommend Birmingham Snow Hill Station Car Park, postcode B3 2BJ and Birmingham New Street Station Car Park, postcode B2 4ND. Both car parks are around a 5 minute walk from thestudio.

Disabled Parking: The closest disabled parking spot is on Waterloo Street which is just around the corner from Cannon Street. Delegates would need an Orange or Blue Badge. Birmingham City Council information for disabled parking can be found here.

By bicycle: If you wish to arrive by bike, we can store your bike in our secure basement, just ask reception on arrival.

Dr Partha Kar, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS University Trust

Dr Ananta Dave, NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Dr Ananta Dave is Chief Medical Officer of the Black Country Integrated Care Board, and a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist. She is Presidential Lead for Retention and wellbeing at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a Trustee of the charity Doctors in Distress (works to prevent suicides in healthcare workers). Amongst other awards, she was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2023) for outstanding services to Psychiatry. Dr Dave is a published poet. 

Dr Richard Duggins, Associate Medical Director for Leadership and Culture; Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy; Clinical Lead North East and North Cumbria Staff Wellbeing Hub; NHS Practitioner Health
Dr Richard Duggins is a Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, Executive Coach, and Associate Medical Director for Leadership and Culture. He leads regional staff wellbeing support for more than 175,000 health and social care staff, and also works with NHS Practitioner Health.  His new book Burnout-Free Working has been described by Dr Helen Garr, Medical Director, as ‘the best book on the ever-increasing challenge of burnout I have ever read,’ offering a compassionate and evidence-based guide to thriving in demanding workplaces. Richard co-hosts the NHS Practitioner Health Podcast with Dr Lee David.

Dr Renato Merolli - I am Associate Specialist in General Adult Psychiatry for the Crisis Team/Home Treatment at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust. I was the SAS Tutor for the Trust for 10 years, post which I stepped down last year. I have been the Associate Director of Clinical Studies for the Trust for the last 6 years. I have worked closely with the local Hull York Medical School (HYMS) in different roles as tutor and lecturer since its inception 20 years ago and currently I am the Mental Health lead and curriculum advisor for HYMS. I am the vice-chair of the College SAS committee.

Dr Rebecca Perry, Leicestershire Partnership Trust 

Dr Becky Perry is a specialty doctor at Leicester's adult specialist eating disorder inpatient unit. She completed the RCPsych Leadership and Management Fellow Scheme in 2025 and the RCPsych Eating Disorder Credential in 2026. She is the SAS representative on the Eating Disorder Faculty and is an educational and clinical supervisor. 

Dr Andrew Tresidder, Medical Educator, Former SW Clinical Lead NHS Practitioner Health 2017-2023
Andrew is a Medical Educator and former NHS Practitioner SW Clinical Lead, with a GP background. He is an Appraiser and Section 12 Approved Doctor, and is passionate about the Health of our profession, which has been an educational gap in the past.

Professor Rich Withnall has been clinically current throughout his career which started when he joined the RAF as a Medical Cadet aged 21.One of the UK’s most senior medical leaders whose career has included military service across multiple continents, advising the UK Government on national medical emergencies, and serving as Honorary Surgeon to Their Majesties Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, he leads the nations’ foremost body for medical leadership. As Director of Defence Healthcare, Professor Withnall has been responsible for 88% of the Defence Medical Services workforce, more than 400 medical and dental facilities worldwide, and the delivery of military primary care, dental care, mental health, occupational health and rehabilitation services – accounting for more than 90% of DMS patient contacts - to more than 200,000 Defence People and their families.

He is a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators, a Senior Founding Fellow of FMLM, and a Chartered Manager. His national and international leadership experience includes being Chair of the Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO (COMEDS)’s Futures Advisory Board; Chair of Warrior Care in the 21st Century within the INVICTUS Games; RCGP Chief Examiner, RCGP International Medical Director, GP Advisor to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, GP Specialty Advisor to the UK Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and Convener of the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) Special Interest Group on Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine.



Thank you for attending the conference.

We'd really appreciate it if you could spend a few moments completing the feedback form and letting us know what went well and if there were any aspects that could be improved.

All comments received remain confidential and are viewed in an effort to improve future events.

You will automatically receive a certificate of attendance 1 week after the event has taken place.

This course is eligible for up to 6 CPD hours, subject to peer group approval.

  • British Medical Association
  • Cygnet Health
  • Gedeon Richter UK Ltd

This event has received financial support through the purchase of exhibition space, with no further input into the arrangements or agenda of the conference.