Faith Members

Mohammed Abdu (staff)

Hello everyone, I’m Mohammed Abdu, and I’m really excited to be part of the Faith, Religion and Spirituality EDI subgroup.

I am a proud Muslim, originally from Sudan, and passionate about creating spaces where people of all faiths, religions, and spiritual backgrounds, whatever form that takes for them, feel respected, understood, and genuinely included. I hold a strong belief that true inclusion means not only feeling like you belong, but also knowing that you matter.

At UCL I have worked as a Clinical Lecturer at the medical school across admissions, widening participation, curriculum design and delivery and now focus on supporting the postgraduate Health Professions Master’s programme. My other current roles include working as a General Practitioner in North West London and as a Principal Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London within the primary care department, and what drives me most is supporting students and colleagues to bring their whole selves into our learning and working environments. My academic interests in storytelling, narrative medicine, and professional identity tie closely to this work, because I believe deeply in understanding people as individuals with rich, multidimensional lives.

Outside work I’m very family‑oriented, love football and travelling (Kauai is still my favourite place on Earth!), and I look forward to working with you all to continue creating a community rooted in empathy, mutual respect and belonging.

James Kelly (staff)

Hello. I am an Associate Clinical Professor working with the Centre for International Medical Education Collaborations, and a critical care doctor. My academic background has been interdisciplinary, including theology and philosophy prior to my medical training. This experience has reinforced how faith, religion and spirituality can fundamentally shape individual identity. This is a large part of why I am committed to helping to ensure that students and staff can embrace these aspects of themselves while participating fully in university life. I am excited to contribute in some way to ensuring that students and staff of all faith backgrounds and none feel that the Medical School is an environment where they can thrive academically and professionally without discrimination or disadvantage.

Tina Nyazika (staff)

As a Clinical Skills Lecturer, I am in the very privileged position of nurturing the clinical development and empowering the professional growth of our medical students, supporting their journey from Year 1 through to Finals.

Being student-facing in this way, my role has naturally evolved to become deeply pastoral. I am a firm believer in nurturing an inclusive culture - one that recognises and respects the whole person, including the beliefs, values and lived experiences that shape who we are. In this vein, I am proud to lead the Faith, Religion and Spirituality subgroup within the EDI Committee.

This commitment also underpins my work as Academic Lead for the Medical School’s  widening participation initiative, Target Medicine. Working alongside a dedicated Manager and an incredible team of 65 medical student volunteers, we focus on empowering young people from underrepresented backgrounds, not only by raising their aspirations, but by equipping them with the tools to reach their full potential and feel they belong.

These same values drive my work as a Schwartz Round Facilitator, former co-Chair of the EDI Committee, and in my national roles with the Medical Schools Council and the UK Network for Racial Equity and Justice in Medical Education. I am committed to creating environments where students and staff feel safe to bring their whole selves - including faith, religion and spirituality into their learning and work.

I believe we are placed in the positions we hold for a reason: with a responsibility to support others, challenge inequity and help create spaces where everyone can thrive.

Outside of the medical school, I find balance and inspiration in the high-stakes teamwork of Formula 1 and my lifelong love of swimming. Whether at home or travelling, finding a body of water to swim is a non-negotiable part of my routine - a reflection of the same discipline and commitment to wellbeing that I encourage in my students.

Alice Smith (staff)

Hello! My name is Alice, and I am a nurse and clinical skills lecturer at UCLMS.

In my work within healthcare, I’ve seen how faith, religion, and spirituality shape the experiences of patients, families, communities, and staff. These experiences inspired me to put myself forward for the Faith, Religion, and Spirituality Subcommittee, so I can learn from others while contributing to promoting understanding, respect, and inclusivity within the MBBS community. 

I believe that open dialogue and empathy around faith and spirituality help us appreciate different perspectives and strengthen the way we work and learn together. I hope to contribute to initiatives that encourage thoughtful engagement with these topics, building on the strong culture of compassion at UCL.

Growing up in a family with a mix of religious and non-religious beliefs gave me a personal appreciation for the variety of beliefs people hold. I believe that care and respect - the values at the heart of UCL - should guide how we interact with one another. I’m delighted to be part of the Faith, Religion, and Spirituality Subcommittee and look forward to enhancing an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone in the MBBS community throughout their time at UCL.

Faye Taylor (staff)

Hello! I’m Faye, the Year 5 Curriculum Manager in the MBBS department. 

My role requires me to work closely with the clinicians and administrators across all hospital sites to implement the Year 5 curriculum and ensuring an inspiring and positive student experience. 

My passion for championing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) started in school, which lead me to study a B.A Hons in Politics, Religion and Philosophy, a degree which enlightened me in so many ways and further developed my understanding of the importance of EDI in everything we interact with. 

I have since always sought ways to advocate EDI in my professional and personal life, wanting to be a part of positive changes in society. The need for people of all faiths and spiritualities to feel welcomed and respected, is pivotal in the multicultural world we live in, and I truly believe understanding each other is an incredible way to develop our knowledge, empathy, and discovery of so many new things (my favourite being food!). 

I look forward to being a part of the Faith, Religion and Spirituality group, advancing my knowledge in a field I love to learn about, but also providing support and outcomes for our staff and students and indirectly to the patients.