MB ChB Manch 1967; FRCS Eng 1973; DObst RCOG 1970.
The son of Jack Salem, Richard John Salem gained his medical education at the University of Manchester. He held house appointments at Hope Hospital, Salford, and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital before being appointed assistant lecturer in the department of anatomy at the University of Manchester. Salem undertook postgraduate research in London and was senior surgical registrar at Hammersmith Hospital and the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Salem then returned to the North-West where he was appointed consultant surgeon to Bolton Area Health Authority.