Currently a Consultant in Paediatric Public Health Medicine at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr Isba previously worked at Lancaster Medical School for five years as Director of Assessment.

She said: “I am really looking forward to returning to Lancaster Medical School to lead it at such an exciting time in its development. All being well, the GMC will give the University medical degree awarding powers very soon and we will graduate our first cohort of Lancaster doctors over the summer. This is an amazing achievement for all involved and something the University can be extremely proud of.”

Dr Isba will contribute to the leadership of the development, planning and delivery of the Lancaster MBChB programme, which is historically run in conjunction with Liverpool University and is currently on course to achieve full, independent GMC accreditation by 2017.

Professor Neil Johnson who is the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University said: “Rachel is a highly respected medical teacher and researcher, so we're absolutely delighted to have her joining us as the Head of the Medical School. This is a hugely exciting time for the Medical School, and Rachel will bring enormous energy and enthusiasm to its leadership. It’s great to have her back with us.”

Dr Isba will start in post on 1 February 2017.