New RCS(Eng) SAS Forum member pledges to bridge gap between doctors and dentists
12 April 2018 (Last updated: 12 Apr 2018 17:11)
For immediate release 12 April 2018
Vinita Shekar, British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial (BAOMS) Council representative for Staff Associate, Specialists and Specialty doctors (SAS), has been appointed to serve on the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) SAS Forum.
Commenting on her appointment, Vinita Shekar says: “With my experience as a SAS doctor in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) I hope to represent my SAS community nationwide, and be part of a legacy that all SAS doctors and dentists will be proud to experience, share and contribute to.”
Vinita Shekar says that SAS doctors in OMFS are in the unique position of being regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC), while working in a specialty regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC).
“I hope to bridge this gap by introducing a better support and development network for SAS doctors in OMFS, which would be welcomed and valued by my fellow SAS and consultant colleagues,” Vinita explains.
She believes that the experience of her own journey as an SAS doctor in OMFS, and learning from that of her NHS Tayside colleagues outside OMFS world, will equip her for the challenges ahead.
Vinita Shekar is one of the few OMFS doctors who also have an additional legal qualification LLM Legal Aspects of Medical Practice. This equipped her to serve on the Portsmouth NHS Trust as an Investigating Officer for Doctors in Difficulty and on the local negotiating committee as Whistle Blowing Advocate. Today she works in the OMFS team as a specialty doctor at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where she is Clinical Governance Lead for OMFS.
National Education for Scotland (NES) is also benefitting from her experience, and Vinita Shekar is currently Educational Adviser for all SAS doctors and dentists at NHS Tayside.
The RCSEng SAS Forum communicates the views of SAS surgeons to the College and its Council, and promotes and supports the SAS grade. As a Forum member Vinita Shekar will consider policy and make recommendations to RCSEng Council about SAS issues, raise the profile of the SAS grade and represent SAS surgeons on RCS internal committees and working parties and external groups too.
Welcoming the appointment, BAOMS Chair Patrick Magennis says: “This is a great personal success for Vinita Shekar that recognises the work that Vinita and our other SAS representative Meera Thavarajah put into building resources on our website. Across surgery our SAS colleagues are essential to patient care. I am sure the RCS will benefit from Vinita’s enthusiasm.”
Further information for SAS surgeons who are interested in the work of the Royal College of Surgeons of England SAS Forum
Ends
For further information and interviews contact: Siân Evans on 020 8674 8921 / 07752 414433 or BAOMS on 020 7405 8074
Notes to editors:
The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) promotes the advancement of education, research and the development of oral and maxillofacial Surgery in Great Britain, and encourages and assists postgraduate education, study and research.
Further information about the Royal College of Surgeons of England SAS Forum
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