Clinician-led education for the next generation

The Acumen Institute of Primary Care is the undergraduate and early-career school of MD Acumen Ltd — co-founded by Professor Rajesh Varma and Professor Tham Nimal-Raj. Professor Varma is the lead Director and Curriculum Author; Professor Nimal-Raj, Chancellor of New Vision University (UK Campus) and Founder of the Essex Medical Society, is co-founder.

Last editorial review: 7 June 2026 · Next scheduled refresh: 1 September 2026.

Our mission

Education the next generation can act on — and evidence

In an era when clinical information is everywhere, the value of education lies in what a search engine cannot give: structured clinical exposure, documented evidence, trusted governance, and proof that learning changes practice. The Institute exists to make international medical students UK-ready — through real NHS observership, a portfolio built on verifiable artefacts, and consultation skills shaped by expert feedback.

The founding partnership

Two co-founders, three institutional bridges

MD Acumen Ltd was founded on a clinician-academic partnership integrating three institutional bridges: a clinical authority who writes the curriculum and signs every editorial revision; an academic partner in New Vision University (UK Campus); and an operational clinical network — the Essex Medical Society and the Hertfordshire host-surgery network — that delivers the observership on the ground. Professor Varma supplies the first; Professor Nimal-Raj, through New Vision University (UK Campus) and the Essex Medical Society, supplies the second and the third.

Lead Director

Professor Rajesh Varma — Director & Curriculum Author

Professor Rajesh Varma

Lead Director & Curriculum Author · Professor of CVRM Medicine and Women's Health · NHS GP Partner · Dual CCT (O&G and Primary Care) · Cambridge Visiting Researcher · NICE Osteoporosis Guideline Committee member

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Clinical practice. NHS GP Partner and GP Trainer at The Colne Practice, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire — more than twenty years of UK primary-care practice, with extended-scope expertise across cardiometabolic medicine, menopause–andropause and clinical headache. Dual CCT in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Primary Care (GMC 4196453).

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Academic appointments. Professor of Cardiovascular–Renal–Metabolic (CVRM) Medicine and Women's Health, New Vision University, Tbilisi; Visiting Researcher, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge. PhD, University of Birmingham (2009).

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Guideline-development role. Member of the NICE Osteoporosis Guideline Development Committee — at the table where pivotal guidance is written.

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For this institute. Convenes the observership's Hertfordshire seminar programme in person, scopes and mentors student audit projects — several to publication — and leads the Clinical Consultation Day faculty.

Co-founder

Professor Tham Nimal-Raj — Co-founder & NVU Chancellor

Professor Tham Nimal-Raj

Co-founder · Chancellor, New Vision University (UK Campus) · Founder & Chair, Essex Medical Society · Senior Partner, Sai Medical Practice · Professor of Family Medicine and Anatomy · Fellow of the Royal Society of Health · Former Council Member, British Medical Association

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Clinical practice. A distinguished senior clinician with over four decades in the UK NHS. Senior Partner at Sai Medical Practice, and previously Chief Clinical Officer within an NHS Clinical Commissioning Group with responsibility for clinical commissioning, primary-care development and regional service redesign. Clinical specialism in hypertension, diabetes and community diagnostics.

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Academic leadership. Chancellor of New Vision University — UK Campus, overseeing clinical rotations and academic standards for the UK Campus route; Professor of Family Medicine and Anatomy.

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For this institute. Founder and Chair of the Essex Medical Society — the academic team delivering the Mid & East Essex observership cohort and its Monday seminar programme.

One company, two schools

Where this institute sits

Acumen Institute of Primary Care — this site

The undergraduate and early-career school: observership, Acumen Ascent, finals & consultation skills, microcourses.

MD Acumen School of Postgraduate Medicine

The postgraduate school: Certificate of Advanced Studies programmes for practising clinicians — at mdacumen.com.

Both schools are operated by MD Acumen Ltd, registered in England and Wales (16538952), under one editorial standard. The canonical founder biographies and the full research & publications record are maintained on mdacumen.com/about.

Talk to us

Initial enquiries — student, surgery or university — receive a personal response from Prof Rajesh Varma.

🩺 The observership ✉️ Contact 🏛 Full founder profiles 🔬 Research & publications

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