Doctor Rammina Yassaie MBChB (Hons) MA PGCE
Senior Lecturer in Leadership for Health and Social Care
Summary
As a Senior Lecturer in Leadership for Health and Social Care, I'm committed to supporting others to explore the value of effective leadership in our ever-changing health and social care systems and to recognise our collective potential as leaders and agents of change. Having worked as a medical doctor for over a decade, I have lived experience of leading in teams, within organisations and across health systems. I pride myself on extending this practical experience with academic knowledge, including my own research in this field. As an Associate Editor for BMJ Leader, I'm keen to support clinicians, students, researchers and leaders to publish on topics that matter to us all.
About
Empowering and developing others as leaders is most definitely my 'why'. I believe in leading with and for humanity and in cultivating leaders that do the same.
As an NHS doctor, my leadership experience has been across multiple different health organisations. My background in biomedical and healthcare ethics offers a unique perspective merging ethics and leadership.
I have worked closely with the NHS Leadership Academy, the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and Health Education England, supporting the development of clinical fellowships in leadership and exploring effective strategies to engage a wider audience in the value of leadership in health and social care. I am interested in finding creative ways to explore leadership and making it a topic that is exciting and accessible for all.
My main scholarly interests explore the leadership requirements and responsibilities of health leaders and health institutions in navigating the planetary crisis. As a passionate public speaker, I have been invited to speak at regional, national and international conferences, specifically on collective, compassionate, inclusive and planetary health leadership.
My publications, spanning the BMJ, BMJ Leader and Journal of Medical Ethics, amongst others, explore the role of health professionals and health institutions in responding to the planetary crisis, and the important role of ethical leadership in this arena.
I am deeply passionate about enhancing education on planetary health and the increasing importance of sustainable healthcare to colleagues from all professional backgrounds.
Teaching
School of Health and Social Care
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
Leadership in Health and Social Care
Integrated Care Curriculum
Leading People and Teams
Leading Change
Systems Leadership
Sustainable Prescribing in Non-Medical Prescribing
Nursing Leadership
Complexity and Leadership in Professional Practical
Research
- Health Research Institute
Publications
Journal articles
Yassaie, R., & Stephenson, C. (2025). Community, Courage, Culture and Care: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experiences of Planetary Health Leadership in the UK Health Context. BMJ leader. http://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2024-001171
Yassaie, R. (2025). Climate activists should be applauded as advocates for public health (Letter). BMJ, 389. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r656
Hoyle, A., & Yassaie, R. (2024). Should doctors be suspended for breaking the law? BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 387, q1888. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q1888
Yassaie, R., & Garman, A. (2024). Planetary health leadership: why BMJ Leader will focus on it. BMJ Leader. http://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2024-001132
Yassaie, R., & Brooks, L. (2024). Reassessing "Good" Medical Practice and the Climate Crisis. Journal of Medical Ethics. http://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2023-109713
Yassaie, R. (2024). Doctors who are activists remind and inspire us also to do the work. BMJ, 385. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q1138
Yassaie, R. (2023). Long walk to fairness : reflections from the FMLM International Healthcare Conference 2022. BMJ leader, 7 (Supp 2). http://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2022-000726
Yassaie, R. (2023). Long walk to fairness : reflections from the FMLM International Healthcare Conference 2022. BMJ leader, 7 (Supp 2). http://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2022-000726
Yassaie, R. (2023). Learning to lead through the climate crisis. BMJ Leader, 7 (Suppl). http://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2023-000769
Reports
Frost, J., & Hindle, L. (2023). Education for sustainable healthcare within UK pre-registration curricula for allied health professions. Council of Deans of Health. https://www.councilofdeans.org.uk/2023/12/guidance-education-for-sustainable-healthcare/
Maru, D., Loftus, L., Edwin, C., Yassaie, R., Neve, G., Weaver, R., ... Patel, V. (2022). The Big GP Consultation Report: Summary of Findings and Implications for the Future of General Practice. https://www.fmlm.ac.uk/news-opinion/blog/the-big-gp-consultation-%E2%80%93-the-next-generation%E2%80%99s-view-for-the-future-of-general
Internet Publications
Yassaie, R. (2025). Climate protester cases expose GMC’s moral failings. https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2025/10/30/climate-protester-cases-expose-gmcs-moral-failings/
Yassaie, R. (2025). The GMC must re-evaluate its treatment of climate protesters. https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2025/01/15/the-gmc-must-re-evaluate-its-treatment-of-climate-protesters/
Yassaie, R., & Brooks, L. (2024). There is no health on a dead planet. https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2024/06/21/there-is-no-health-on-a-dead-planet/
Yassaie, R. (2024). Choosing courage over comfort in the climate crisis: Are our health institutions prepared to do what it takes? https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjleader/2024/04/09/choosing-courage-over-comfort-in-the-climate-crisis-are-our-health-institutions-prepared-to-do-what-it-takes-by-rammina-yassaie/
Yassaie, R. (2024). Oxford Handbook of Medical Leadership and Management – Book Review. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjleader/2024/02/01/oxford-handbook-of-medical-leadership-and-management-book-review-by-dr-rammina-yassaie/
Yassaie, R. (2023). “Good Medical Practice” and the Climate Crisis. https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2023/09/18/good-medical-practice-and-the-climate-crisis/
Yassaie, R. (2022). Introducing the NHS Regional Clinical Leadership Fellow Blog Series. [Blog]. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjleader/2022/08/24/introducing-the-nhs-regional-clinical-leadership-fellow-blog-series-by-rammina-yassaie/
Presentations
Yassaie, R. (2025). Should climate activist doctors be suspended for breaking the law? Presented at: IME Conference 2025: Looking backwards: Looking forwards, Birmingham
Yassaie, R. (2025). Community, courage, culture and care: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of planetary health leadership in the UK health context. Presented at: SHARE conference (Sustainable Healthcare Academic Research and Enterprise), Virtual
Yassaie, R. (2024). Leading for Planetary health: from connection to coalition. Presented at: Future Leaders Conference, Radisson Hotel, York
Yassaie, R., Loftus, L., & Neve, G. (2022). The Vision for the future of General Practice. Presented at: Faculty of Medical Leaders and Managers International Conference
Yassaie, R., Loftus, L., & Neve, G. (2022). The Vision for the future of General Practice. Presented at: Faculty of Medical Leaders and Managers International Conference
Other activities
I am an Associate Editor for BMJ Leader, an international peer-reviewed journal of research into leadership in health and social care.