• Indian-origin gastroenterologist Professor Dame Parveen Kumar has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), the highest rank within the Order of the British Empire, in King Charles III's 2026 Birthday Honors.
• The award recognizes her contributions to global medical education, including leadership roles at the Royal Society of Medicine, Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, and Royal College of Physicians.
• Kumar is best known as co-author of Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine, one of the world's most widely used textbooks in clinical medicine.
Indian-origin physician and medical educator Professor Parveen Kumar has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), the highest rank within the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in King Charles III's 2026 Birthday Honours. She was recognized for her services to global medical education and health.
Prof. Kumar, a gastroenterologist and co-author of Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine, is Professor Emerita of Medicine and Education at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London.
The GBE follows earlier national recognition for Kumar's contributions to medicine. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000 and later Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2017 for services to medicine and medical education.
The GBE is awarded to individuals recognized for exceptional contributions to public life and society. Kumar was among 1,182 recipients named in the 2026 King's Birthday Honors, which celebrate achievements in healthcare, education, public service, and other fields.
Professor Dame Parveen Kumar DBE FRCP is best known as the co-founder and co-author of Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine, one of the world's most widely used textbooks in internal medicine. First published in 1987, Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine has become one of the world's most widely used internal medicine textbooks and remains core reading for medical students in numerous countries.
Her King's Birthday Honours citation noted that she "co-founded and authored the textbook Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine, used worldwide," highlighting its lasting influence on medical training.
In addition to authoring medical textbooks, Prof. Kumar played a pioneering role in postgraduate training by establishing the first Master's degree programme in gastroenterology in the United Kingdom. She has continued to teach, lecture, and examine medical students and physicians internationally throughout her career.
Prof. Kumar's academic research focused particularly on disorders of the small intestine, especially coeliac disease, on which she completed her doctoral work and published extensively. Her contributions helped advance understanding of small bowel disorders while she simultaneously developed a distinguished career in medical education and clinical practice.
Beyond her contributions to medical publishing, Kumar held several senior leadership roles within British medicine.
As President of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, she helped raise £100,000 and supported the creation of a confidential helpline for doctors experiencing personal or professional difficulties.
She also served as President of the Royal Society of Medicine, where she established the Global Health initiative to encourage international collaboration in healthcare and medical education.
At the Royal College of Physicians, she worked as a senior examiner and helped develop educational programmes for healthcare professionals.
Beyond her clinical practice and teaching, Professor Kumar has remained active in healthcare policy and physician welfare intiatives in the UK.
She currently co-chairs the BMJ Commission for the Future of the National Health Service and serves as an ambassador for the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change.
Her work has spanned medical training, NHS policy discussions, and support services for healthcare workers, extending her influence beyond the classroom and clinical practice.
The 2026 King's Birthday Honours recognized 1,182 people across the United Kingdom for contributions to healthcare, education, public service, business, science, and community development.
Professor Dame Parveen Kumar was among the recipients recognized for outstanding service, receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for her contributions to worldwide medical education and health.
The honor recognizes Kumar's decades-long contributions to physician training, medical scholarship, and healthcare leadership. Through her academic work and professional service, she has influenced generations of doctors in the UK, India, and around the world.
(Rh/TP/MSM)