Dr Qasim Akram is a Consultant Rheumatologist and General Physician working in South Manchester and Cheshire, currently practising at HCA UK at The Wilmslow Hospital. He specialises in musculoskeletal ultrasound to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatological conditions. His expertise encompasses early inflammatory arthritis and giant cell arteritis, and he operates dedicated “one-stop shop” clinics for early inflammatory arthritis and a “fast track” clinic for giant cell arteritis, making use of ultrasound for prompt assessment and diagnosis.

He addresses a broad spectrum of rheumatological diseases, including inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, peripheral spondyloarthropathy, enteropathic and reactive arthritis, and crystal arthritides including gout, osteoarthritis, soft tissue musculoskeletal disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndromes. He also treats connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and inflammatory myositis, and conditions like Raynaud’s phenomenon, using advanced biologic therapies where appropriate. Dr Akram holds dual UK board certification (CCT) in rheumatology and internal medicine, having completed specialist training in the North West Deanery, as well as an international fellowship in musculoskeletal ultrasound under Dr Esperanza Naredo in Madrid. He holds both EFSUMB and EULAR level 2 accreditation in musculoskeletal ultrasound and is recognised as an international EULAR ultrasound instructor. He leads the internationally accredited EULAR Imaging Centre at Stepping Hill Hospital, the 6th department in the UK, to achieve this recognition.

He founded and directs the national “Rheumatology Ultrasound Course – Manchester Workshop” and remains actively involved in the education of trainees and consultant peers, both regionally and internationally. He mentors speciality trainees with ultrasound skills during their rotations at Stepping Hill Hospital. His main research and quality-improvement interests focus on the use of ultrasound in rheumatological disease, enhancing ultrasound services within rheumatology, and expanding the availability of this clinical tool across the UK and beyond. He is involved in several ongoing clinical trials and has presented his work at national and international conferences. He also contributes to teaching undergraduates from the University of Manchester and postgraduate trainees, and he holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education.