Professor Richard Hays is the current Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine at Bond University, Australia, and was formerly at Keele University England.
Professor Hays has forged a distinguished career as one of Australia's leading experts in medical education. He served as the Foundation Head of School, Foundation Chair of General Practice and Rural Medicine, and the Chair of Medication Education at the James Cook University Medical School. In this capacity, he was responsible for the educational development and accreditation of the first new Australian medical school to open in 26 years and the first regional institution to specifically focus on rural medical practices.
Maintaining an active and prolific research profile, Professor Hays has compiled more than 80 papers and authored five books, the majority of which are themed around medical education and rural practice. He has secured several million dollars worth of research funding and is regularly invited to present papers at conferences around the world.
Throughout his academic career, Professor Hays has continued his involvement in general practice, providing up to three sessions per week for various practice co-operatives until moving to the UK in 2006. As such, his expertise in medical education is augmented by his in-depth understanding of the realities of general practice in today's society.