BBUGSS
British Benign Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Society
A Partner of AUGIS Dedicated to Benign Upper GI Surgery
Cholesafe 1.0
BBUGSS Council
President (Council Role)
Professor Viswanath
I am a Professor of Surgery and a senior Upper GI, laparoscopic, and endoscopic surgeon with nearly 26 years of experience at a tertiary hospital. I currently serve as President of the Society, actively advancing its mission to prepare tomorrow’s surgeons today through comprehensive education, courses and training, particularly in the management of benign foregut disorders.
Additionally, I am the Program Director for MCh Surgical specialities and work closely with Teesside University, where I hold an honorary appointment,fostering academic partnerships that enhance surgical training and research.
Title of my story: A Surgeon’s Odyssey; a journey of healing and leading
Favourite Place: Paris - a global hub for luxury, fashion, art, history and culture
Spirit Animal: Unicorn - symbolises grace, purity, and courage to dream beyond the norm.
BBUGSS President is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority. The President of BBUGSS is the highest appointment within the Society. The position is automatically linked to Benign Upper GI Lead on AUGIS Council.
The President’s primary responsibilities include oversee the running of the Society as the Head of the Council and Head of the BBUGSS Executive Team – this will include delegating duties, overseeing others in their roles and supporting all members of council in their roles. The Presidents role is to set the direction, aims and objectives of the Society after consultation with the Council. The President would, with the support of the secretary be expected to chair council meetings.
The President of BBUGSS serves as the primary face of the Society and leads on negotiation and working partnerships with other groups within AUGIS and external to this. The President also acts as the final signatory in conjunction with the AUGIS President, signing off Practice Guidelines for the Society.They also hold final responsibility for organising the BBUGSS presence at the Annual Scientific meeting of AUGIS.
N.B. The president Elect is automatically promoted to President at the end of their term, and elections are not held directly for the position of President.
President-Elect (Council Role)
TBC
BBUGSS President-Elect is a 2-year appointment, the position is open to any current Consultant or peri/post CCT member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
The BBUGSS President-Elect is part of BBUGSS Executive Team and holds a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: shadowing the role of the President and preparing for their following term as President, assisting with preparation and delivery of the Annual Scientific Meeting, setting the direction of the society with Council and co-ordinating projects that Council is undertaking. The President Elect acts as deputy for the president in their absence.
Secretary (Council Role)
TBC
BBUGSS Secretary is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current member of BBUGSS or AUGIS, including non-Consultant grades. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
The BBUGSS Secretary is part of BBUGSS Executive Team and holds a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: defining the constitution of the society, organising council meetings, minute taking and distribution of action points from the meeting, maintaining a list of council members, their terms and a list of their contact details. The secretary also coordinators enquiries from members to the appropriate person for response.
Honorary Treasurer (via AUGIS)
Clinical Practice Recommendation Lead (Council Role)
Ms Claire Brown
BBUGSS Clinical Practice Recommendation Lead is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current Consultant or peri/post CCT member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
The BBUGSS Clinical Practice Recommendation Lead is part of BBUGSS Executive Team and holds a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: creation and maintenance of the clinical practice guidelines from the society including in areas related to organisation of a service and clinical outcome expectations
Clinical Practice Recommendation Lead (Support) (Council Role)
Mr Stuart Andrews
The support role is appointed in the same way as the lead role and assists with the above duties. It is open to any member of AUGIS or BBUGSS, including Resident Doctors and other non-consultant grades.
Education & Training Lead (Council Role)
Mr Ian Maheswaran
BBUGSS Education and Training Lead is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current Consultant or peri/post CCT member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
The BBUGSS Education and Training Lead is part of BBUGSS Executive Team and holds a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: develop educational events including organising and delivering the BBUGSS component of the AUGIS webinar series and connecting/networking with benign Upper GI surgical courses/training events around the UK of interest to our members.
This position would also hole the primary role for organising/coordinating the BBUGSS room at the Annual Scientific Meeting of AUGIS.
Education & Training Lead (Support) (Council Role)
Ms Jihene El Kafsi
The support role is appointed in the same way as the lead role and assists with the above duties. It is open to any member of AUGIS or BBUGSS, including Resident Doctors and other non-consultant grades.
Research & Audit Lead (Council Role)
Mr Sayan Bhattacharya
BBUGSS Research and Audit Lead is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current Consultant or peri/post CCT member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
The BBUGSS Research and Audit Lead is part of BBUGSS Executive Team and holds a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: leading on new research projects with the members of their sub-committee, chair the National Hiatal Surgery Registry committee and present regular updates on NHSR to the BBUGSS council, liaise with other surgical societies in the UK and abroad for introducing new innovations in benign upper GI surgery.
Research & Audit Lead (Support) (Council Role)
TBC
The support role is appointed in the same way as the lead role and assists with the above duties. It is open to any member of AUGIS or BBUGSS, including Resident Doctors and other non-consultant grades.
Communication Officer (Council Role)
Mr Matthew Browning
BBUGSS Communication Officer is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current Consultant or peri/post CCT member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
As BBUGSS Communication Officer, they hold a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to:being responsible for the running and content of BBUGGS Facebook/Twitter/LinkdIn accounts, working with the Educational and Training team as well as the Research and Audit team to be responsible for advertising BBUGSS educational and training events and other relevant communications from BBUGSS, to be vigilant with regard to national activity related to benign Upper GI Surgery that may be of interest to the society and its members and reach out to strengthen networking and collaborative working.
Website Lead (Council Role)
Hari Nageswaran
I am a benign UGI surgeon working in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), Newport, South Wales. I am interested in medical education and research and hold an honorary lecturer position at Cardiff University. I am currently the regional representative for Wales on the AUGIS council.
I am proud to be affiliated to BBUGGS, the leading organisation in the UK representing my sub-specialty. My aim is to develop the BBUGGS website into a useful companion for trainees, specialists and consultants, filled with guidance for clinical work and resources for career development in Benign UGI Surgery.
(If you have any feedback or ideas for the development of the website, please let me know through the contact page)
Title of my story: The Accidental Surgeon
Favourite Place: Istanbul – the layers of history, the contrast between European and Asian halves of the city and the enchantment of the Bosphorus
Spirit Animal: Monkey – cheeky, playful, creative
BBUGSS Website Lead is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
As BBUGSS Website lead, they hold a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: maintaining and updating the BBUGSS website with content generated by other Council members, ensuring the website is useful, engaging and appealing, aiding the comms team to send emails or campaigns through the website.
Communication Officer (Support) (Council Role)
TBC
The support role is appointed in the same way as the lead role and assists with the above duties. It is open to any member of AUGIS or BBUGSS, including Resident Doctors and other non-consultant grades.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead (Council Role)
TBC
BBUGSS EDI Lead is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current Consultant or peri/post CCT member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
This is a new position, currently up for election; the first appointee would be expected to define the role and its remit.
Endoscopy Lead (Council Role)
TBC
BBUGSS Endoscopy Lead is a 2 year appointment, the position is open to any current Consultant or peri/post CCT member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
This is a new position, currently up for election; the first appointee would be expected to define the role and its remit. As Endoscopy lead, they would hold a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: liaising with other societies and organisations such as other wings of AUGIS, JAG, and the JCST on matters regarding surgical endoscopy and advocating for surgeons and surgeons in training.
Trainee Representative (Council Role)
Mr Matthew Browning
BBUGSS Trainee Representative is a 1 year appointment, the position is open to any current trainee member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
As BBUGSS Trainee Representative, they hold a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to:
working with the Educational and Training Lead and Educational and Training Lead Support to organise BBUGSS training events, to work with Roux Group and other trainee groups (ASIT etc.) to collaborate with benign Upper GI surgery Educational and Training Events, to encourage membership of BBUGSS as a trainee member, to report back to BBUGSS Council any issues related to benign Upper GI surgical training in the UK.
The position also is linked to the Benign Lead on the ROUX Group Council and therefor has responsibilities in relation to ROUX.
Regional Representatives (Council Roles)
BBUGSS Regional Representatives are appointed for 2 years, the position is open to any current member of BBUGSS or AUGIS. In the case of more than one expression of interest, the council members of BBUGSS would vote and the decision made by majority.
The BBUGSS Regional Representative hold a number of responsibilities, these include but are not limited to: networking with surgeons within your region to promote BBUGSS and membership, to obtain feedback from benign Upper GI surgeons in your region and report this to BBUGSS Council during meetings, to assist with promoting BBUGSS events within your region.
South England Mr Ian Finlay
Mid England Mr Guy Finch
North England TBC
Wales Mr Hari Nageswaran
Scotland Mr Michael Wilson
Northern Ireland Mr Gary Spence
Ex-Presidents:
Mr Stuart Andrews 2020 - 2022
Mr Kirk Bowling 2022 - 2024
BBUGSS has a strict non-discrimination policy. We believe everyone should be treated equally regardless of race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you feel that you have been discriminated against by our society, please let us know as soon as possible. Every complaint will be appropriately investigated and responded to.