School of Health and Social Care Staff
Dr Jahanzaib Irfan
Programme Leader & Head of Health and Social Care
Before joining Mont Rose College (MRC) in April 2017, I worked as a Health Professional Educationist in my home country in a public sector Health Sciences University. In the UK, my first academic role was working as a Module Leader for Clinical Medicine and Human Functional Anatomy for approximately 8 years in a Healthcare Higher Education Institution. This was followed by joining MRC in a leading academic role. I am a Registered Medical Practitioner and Clinician in my home country, and my Primary Medical Qualification (MBBS) is also approved by General Medical Council (GMC) UK to practise Medicine in the UK.
Read MoreI have witnessed the growth of The Health and Social Care Department at MRC since its inception in April 2017. I was the first lecturer to teach the inaugural group of students during the Department’s first teaching session. Since then, the Department has experienced remarkable growth, evolving into an independent academic discipline that now offers Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree programmes.
My role extends beyond teaching to encompass academic leadership, supervision, and mentorship, with a strong commitment to fostering a student-centred and supportive teaching and learning environment. I lead my team in ensuring quality assurance in their assessment decisions, auditing teaching and learning resources, cultivating a research culture, and developing effective policies and strategies to support student progression and achievement. In addition, I supervise my team in organising training workshops for healthcare learners and external stakeholders while overseeing both the academic and administrative operations of the Department.
I work collaboratively with the Office for Students (OfS), Pearson, and Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) to ensure that sector-specific standards and benchmarks are consistently achieved while safeguarding students’ interests through the delivery of a high-quality and supportive learning experience.
Holding Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) status, alongside a PhD in Clinical Medicine Research (Surgery and Cancer), further strengthens my professional expertise and enables me to add significant value to my role. This combination of academic leadership, research excellence, and practical experience has contributed to a positive and lasting impact on student development, progression, and overall success.
If you need to get in touch with me, you may do so by emailing me at j.irfan@mrcollege.ac.uk or by calling 0208 556 5009 ext. 1036.
Oana Dumitra
Deputy Manager of HND Health and Social Care
I have been working as a Health and Social Care Lecturer for Mont Rose College for about two and half years and recently promoted to Deputy Manager level in HND Health and Social Care. I am passionate about Special Education Needs, a fascinating domain where I worked for about 5 years, as a teacher assistant, learning support assistant, Autism worker. I have also worked as a team leader and support worker for children and young adults with Autism. I have a degree in Health and Social Care, I am also a qualified Journalist, a sector where I worked for many years, as a Journalist and Editor for the educational and health sector. At the moment, I am studying for my Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Besides this, I truly believe in the power of education to change people’s lives, but also in the power of human connection, as a factor of transformation and inspiration.
If you need to get in touch with me, you may do so by emailing me at o.dumitra@mrcollege.ac.uk or by calling 0208 556 5009.
Ghulam Fatima
H&SC Lecturer and Internal Verifier
I am serving as a Health and Social Care Lecturer at Mont Rose College since December 2024. I am an HCPC-registered Physiotherapist with over 10 years of experience teaching healthcare students at the university level. I have an M.Phil. degree in rehabilitation sciences, and I recently completed my master’s degree in healthcare leadership from BPP University, London (2024). My extensive academic and clinical background enables me to deliver a wide range of health-related subjects, from basic sciences to advanced clinical concepts. I have also supervised students in clinical placements and research projects, preparing future healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s complex health and social care environments.
My job involves teaching HND and Top-up courses, creating resources, assessing and grading students, providing feedback, and supporting students as needed. Additionally, completing administrative tasks and training provided by the college are also part of my duties.
If you need to get in touch with me, you may do so by emailing me at g.fatima@mrcollege.ac.uk or by calling 020 8556 5009.
Hufsa Farooq
Health and Social Care Lecturer
I am a Health and Social Care Lecturer, Deputy Research Lead, and qualified Internal Verifier with a multidisciplinary background in higher education, research, mental health support, and community engagement. I currently teach across Level 4, Level 5, and Level 6 Health and Social Care programmes, where I support students through inclusive, student-centred, and practice-informed teaching approaches.
Alongside teaching, I contribute to curriculum delivery, assessment, academic mentoring, and placement supervision, helping students develop both academically and professionally. I work closely with students from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and am particularly passionate about supporting underrepresented learners to build confidence and succeed within higher education.
Read MoreAs Deputy Research Lead, I contribute to research-informed practice, academic enhancement initiatives, and projects linked to widening participation, student engagement, and institutional development. I am also involved in organising workshops, external collaborations, and activities that strengthen links between education, healthcare practice, and the wider community.
My previous professional experience includes research, community engagement, and mental health support roles, where I worked on socially focused projects involving qualitative research, stakeholder engagement, training, and participant-centred support. These experiences strengthened my interest in educational equity, inclusion, wellbeing, and the ways social and cultural factors shape individual experiences within institutions and communities.
I am committed to creating supportive and reflective learning environments that encourage personal growth, critical thinking, and meaningful engagement with professional practice.
Aliya Maqsood
Health and Social Care Lecturer
Aliya Maqsood is a Lecturer in Health and Social Care Practice, molecular physiologist, and health professions educator with over seven years of experience in higher education teaching and academic research. She is currently completing her PhD in Molecular Physiology and holds an MSc in Medical Education from Cardiff University.
Her teaching philosophy centres on creating engaging, inclusive, and student-focused learning environments that bridge theory with real-world healthcare practice. She has a strong interest in leadership and professional practice, anatomy and physiology, reflective learning, and innovative teaching strategies that enhance student engagement and confidence.
Read MoreAliya’s research spans both molecular physiology and educational pedagogy. Her scientific research focuses on inflammatory signalling pathways and genetic polymorphisms, particularly Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) and Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) gene variants in relation to disease mechanisms and health outcomes. Alongside this, she is actively involved in health professions education research, with a particular interest in Team-Based Learning (TBL), active learning approaches, and teaching innovation within higher education and low-resource educational settings.
She holds professional memberships and recognitions with several respected academic and scientific bodies, including Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA), Member of the Academy of Medical Educators (MAcadMEd), member of The Physiological Society, and member of Royal Society of Biology. She has presented her educational work at international conferences and continues to contribute to discussions on innovative and evidence-based teaching practices in health sciences education.
