Appointed 2011, Group Chief Medical Officer since August 2022
Dr Odum qualified from Birmingham University in 1984, and his postgraduate training was undertaken in the West Midlands (1984-1991) and Adelaide, South Australia (1991-1993). He was awarded a Sheldon Research Fellowship by the West Midlands Regional Health Authority in 1988, and following completion of his research, his thesis was awarded an MD by the University of Birmingham in 1993.
He took up post as a Consultant in General Internal Medicine and Nephrology at New Cross Hospital in 1993. His clinical interests include diagnosis and management of hypertension and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying and treatment of glomerular disease.
Dr Odum was elected as a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in 1999 and has been an MRCP PACES examiner from 1999 to the present day.
He has a significant interest in service development, and as Clinical Director for Renal Services (1995-2005), was responsible for the expansion of renal services at Wolverhampton into Walsall and Cannock, and the opening of the satellite Haemodialysis units at Walsall Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital.
Dr Odum has held several senior medical management positions at the Trust, including Clinical Director of Medicine and Divisional Medical Director posts from 2003 to 2011. He was appointed into and held the post of Chief Medical Officer at RWT from April 2011 to December 2022, during which time he was also the Trust’s Responsible Officer (2011-2021).
With the formalisation of the group structure between RWT and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Dr Odum was appointed Group Chief Medical Officer in December 2022.
At Integrated Care System (ICS) level, Dr Odum is Chair of the Clinical Leaders Group, and is also the Chief Medical Officer for the Black Country Provider Collaborative (BCPC).