SAS and Locum Consultants Committee Members

Mr Alexander Baldwin (MBChB, BMedSc(Hons), MRCS) is a locally employed plastic surgery registrar at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the current Duke of Kent burns research fellow with Restore Research. He has maintained a strong focus on research since graduating, and completed his equivalent core training competencies via the CREHST route whilst working as a research fellow. He intends to use his role on the RCSEd’s SASLC committee to ensure that locally employed doctors working at core trainee and registrar grades have a voice at a national level, and to advocate for those who choose to enter higher surgical training via alternative pathways, such as the CREHST route, whilst working as locally employed surgeons. Alex also serves on several national committees including those pertaining to trainee led collaborative research and improving surgical education.

Ms Catherine Diver (MB BSc BaO, MRCSEd) graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2000. She started working as a specialty doctor in ENT at the Royal Free Hospital in London, moving back to Northern Ireland in 2006 to take up her current post as a specialty doctor in ENT at the Belfast HSC Trust. Since 2022 she has been a Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh SAS and LED committee member and holds the role of an educational tutor for the college. In 2024 Catherine joined the Intercollegiate Surgical Education Committee For SAS (ISECSN). Catherine's leadership roles in her Trust include Patient Safety and Clinical Governance lead and Quality Improvement (QI) lead in ENT. In relation to education, she is a member of the Belfast Trust's QI faculty which helps deliver the Specialist Trainees Engaged in Leadership Programme (STEP). Catherine’s most recent appointment is the Deputy Associate Dean for Specialty, Associate Specialists and Specialist (SAS) doctors, at Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, appointed in October 2024.

Mr Nishan Fernando (MBChB, MRCS, FHEA, FFSTEd) is a Specialty Surgeon at North of Scotland Cardiothoracic Unit. He sits on the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Perioperative Care, is a Member of the SASLED Committee, and is the SAS representative on the Cardiothoracic SSB. He is an Honorary Lecturer in the University of Aberdeen where he serves as the Deputy Lead, Year 3 and the Surgical Lead, Year 4, MBChB. He a Fellow of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers and of the Higher Education Academy. He is a Designated Medical Supervisor for the Non-Medical Prescribing Course, Practice Supervisor for trainee ANPs and Surgical Practitioners. He has a strong academic interest in Human Factors and is on the NOTSS Faculty. He is Scoring Panel Member at RCSEd. He is an MRCS Examiner for the Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Exams (ICBSE) and is on the Assessment Panel for the University of Aberdeen MBChB. 

Nader Ibrahim is currently working as an Locum Educational Doctor (LED) at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department. After completing his dentistry studies and training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Cairo, Egypt, and obtaining membership in OMFS (MOMS RCSEd), he made the decision to relocate to the UK to pursue a career in OMFS. SASO roles provide him with greater stability, enabling him to work in a field he is passionate about. Nader is enthusiastic about education and is dedicated to encouraging more dentists to join the specialty.

I have been conferred the title of Honorary Professor at Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Foundation (AHERF) for my contribution to international teaching, training, academic publishing and Research Scholarship. I have a Global Research Profile; being on the list that represents the top 2% of Scientists in Orthopaedic Surgery in the world released by Stanford University on 06.10.2023 and 10.10.2022. I have built a strong publication portfolio being an Author of 250+ Index, peer-reviewed articles, 190+ PubMed records with over 4000 citations to date and serve as a Deputy Editor at the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma (JCOT) (Elsevier).

I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCS Ed) since 2009, a member of the RCS Edinburgh Research, Grants & Fellowship Committee and the SAS and Locum Consultants Committee (SASLC) since 2022-2023.

The RCSEd offers a number of different fellowships, travelling fellowships, grants, awards, student bursaries and scholarships pertaining to different specialities of surgery and dentistry to benefit patients and improve care. I bring my expertise as an Author and Editor in assessing research proposals submitted to the College. I believe this role is crucial to support the RCSEd vision of delivering Research Scholarship, advance research and develop Evidence Based Medicine in enhancing quality patient care.

The RCSEd is my academic home with its strong interest in education, leadership, research, and career development of all surgeons aspiring to deliver high standard of surgical care.

I would encourage everyone to avail of the opportunities at the RCSEd Research, Grants & Fellowship Committee and support the College vision of improving patient outcomes and care. 

Mr S. S. Murali (MS (Gen. Surg.), FRCS(G), FRCSEd) was elected to the RCSEd SASLED Committee September 2024 and is Member of the RCSEd Urology Surgical Specialist Board. He is the first Chair of the Section of SAS & Trust Urologists (SSTU) in the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS), created by BAUS in 2023-24.

Mr Murali is committed to fostering career development of SAS & LE Doctors through the routes of Designated Autonomous Practitioner, the Specialist Grade in the 2021 SAS Contract and progression to the Specialist Register via the Portfolio Pathway. He is keen to contribute to the roll-out of Commissioning Data Set ver 6.3 (CDS v6.3), which was formally launched by NHSE in April 2023, with a view to integrating these provisions into a unified plan for the career progression of the SAS & LED workforce.

Mr Murali’s vision is for the SASLED Committee of RCSEd to spearhead, at a national level, the initiative to translate these objectives into a comprehensive workforce strategy, to facilitate the career progression of the SAS & LE Doctors who constitute the backbone of the NHS, so that delivery of clinical care across the NHS will be optimised by a supported, and responsive, SAS & LE Doctors workforce.

Mr Lasitha Bhagya Samarakoon (BS BM (Col) MRCS (Edin. & Eng.) Mmed (NUH) ChM(UoE) FEBS(EBSQ) FRCSGlasg(Gen) FRCSEd(Gen) FFSTEd) graduated from the University of Colombo in 2010 with First-class honours. Subsequently, he completed general surgical residency training and obtained fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSEd) in 2020. He has been actively engaged in clinical practice, academic research, and medical education for more than a decade. His involvement in both local and international research projects has resulted in numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and abstracts presented at national and international conferences. Additionally, he has authored and published several books. Mr Samarakoon serves as a clinical tutor for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and the Leicester Medical School. He participates as teaching faculty in numerous surgical courses conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), as well as the University of Edinburgh (UOE). Furthermore, he serves as an Examiner for the Intercollegiate Committee of Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE) and is a current member of the Specialty Board for General Surgery (SSB GS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). In addition to his busy clinical practice, Mr Samarakoon is an avid chess player, reader, amateur pilot, and aviation enthusiast. He finds joy in teaching, training, and mentoring the next generation of surgeons. He is extremely passionate about helping SAS LED doctors overcome hurdles to navigate and achieve their full potential in their careers, across a variety of roles and aspects.

Ms Julie Craig (MB BCh BAO (Hons.) MRCS MSc (ortho. engin.) MSc (clin. educ.)) works as an orthopaedic specialty doctor in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, with a clinical interest in trauma.

Julie graduated from Queen’s University Belfast, and has since completed Masters’ degrees in Clinical Education at Queen’s University, and in Orthopaedic Engineering at Cardiff University.

She is now an undergraduate educational lead for fractures for Queen’s University Belfast and the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust. She also teaches quality improvement and leadership skills to doctors in the Belfast Trust.

Julie has a special interest in clinical data analysis and project design and is the Belfast Trust’s specialty improvement lead for their fracture inpatient database. She is also the Northern Ireland lead for the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD), a member of the NHFD advisory group and a member of the Royal College of Physicians’ Falls and Fragility Fracture Audit Programme committee.

She is also a member of the British Medical Association Northern Ireland SAS committee and the SAS representative on the British Orthopaedic Association’s education & careers committee.

Julie’s publications include peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters, and her research presentations have received prizes from the Bone and Joint Journal, British Trauma Society and the Irish Hip Fracture Database.

Mr Sanjit Das is an Associate Specialist in Urology from the South West of England. He is actively engaged in SAS matters both locally and regionally, and he eagerly anticipates becoming involved with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) to support his SAS surgical colleagues.

Mr Prasenjit Goswami (MBBS, MS, MRCSEd, DNB) is a dedicated and skilled Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in treating a wide range of reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns. With a background in both academic and clinical settings, I am committed to providing high-quality care and advancing my expertise in these specialties. I have worked at prominent hospitals, including St John’s Hospital in Livingston, NHS Lothian, and previously at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where I contributed significantly to patient care, research, and the implementation of key departmental initiatives.

Throughout my career, I have managed complex surgical cases, including trauma reconstruction, cancer reconstruction, congenital anomaly correction, and burn care. I am highly experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams and supervising junior staff, ensuring efficient and patient-centric care. I possess sound clinical judgment and have a deep commitment to evidence based medicine.

In addition to my clinical expertise, I have a keen interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and its application in healthcare. I have completed a course on AI in Healthcare from Stanford University, aiming to integrate innovative technology into medical practice. Eager to continuously develop my skills, I am passionate about advancing my career in Plastic Surgery, while exploring the potential of AI to enhance patient outcomes.

Mr Tim Graham (RCSEd Vice-President) is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University of Birmingham and Royal Centre for Defence Medicine UK and a Civilian Consultant Cardiac Surgeon to the British Army. Mr Graham is a joint founder of the National Birmingham Review course in Cardiothoracic surgery and the National Birmingham Professional Development Course. Furthermore, he is a joint founder and convenor of the Asian Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialty Update Course (ACSSUC). In recognition of his contributions, Mr Graham received Honorary Fellowship from the Indian Association of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2011 and the Distinguished Surgeon Award from the Academy of Medicine Singapore in 2013.

Mr S. S. Murali (MS (Gen. Surg.), FRCS(G), FRCSEd) was elected to the RCSEd SASLED Committee September 2024 and is Member of the RCSEd Urology Surgical Specialist Board. He is the first Chair of the Section of SAS & Trust Urologists (SSTU) in the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS), created by BAUS in 2023-24.

Mr Murali is committed to fostering career development of SAS & LE Doctors through the routes of Designated Autonomous Practitioner, the Specialist Grade in the 2021 SAS Contract and progression to the Specialist Register via the Portfolio Pathway. He is keen to contribute to the roll-out of Commissioning Data Set ver 6.3 (CDS v6.3), which was formally launched by NHSE in April 2023, with a view to integrating these provisions into a unified plan for the career progression of the SAS & LED workforce.

Mr Murali’s vision is for the SASLED Committee of RCSEd to spearhead, at a national level, the initiative to translate these objectives into a comprehensive workforce strategy, to facilitate the career progression of the SAS & LE Doctors who constitute the backbone of the NHS, so that delivery of clinical care across the NHS will be optimised by a supported, and responsive, SAS & LE Doctors workforce.

Mr Lasitha Bhagya Samarakoon (BS BM (Col) MRCS (Edin. & Eng.) Mmed (NUH) ChM(UoE) FEBS(EBSQ) FRCSGlasg(Gen) FRCSEd(Gen) FFSTEd) graduated from the University of Colombo in 2010 with First-class honours. Subsequently, he completed general surgical residency training and obtained fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSEd) in 2020. He has been actively engaged in clinical practice, academic research, and medical education for more than a decade. His involvement in both local and international research projects has resulted in numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and abstracts presented at national and international conferences. Additionally, he has authored and published several books. Mr Samarakoon serves as a clinical tutor for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and the Leicester Medical School. He participates as teaching faculty in numerous surgical courses conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), as well as the University of Edinburgh (UOE). Furthermore, he serves as an Examiner for the Intercollegiate Committee of Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE) and is a current member of the Specialty Board for General Surgery (SSB GS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). In addition to his busy clinical practice, Mr Samarakoon is an avid chess player, reader, amateur pilot, and aviation enthusiast. He finds joy in teaching, training, and mentoring the next generation of surgeons. He is extremely passionate about helping SAS LED doctors overcome hurdles to navigate and achieve their full potential in their careers, across a variety of roles and aspects.

Mr Shyam Singam is an Associate Specialist ENT Surgeon, based at Torbay Hospital, Devon, UK.

Basic medical training and ENT post-graduation in India. Subsequent training and ENT fellowship, from Republic of Ireland.

A Generalist essentially, with special interests in Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA), Sleep Disordered Breathing, Coblation surgery and Acupuncture.

Past ENT UK SAS Chair, past SAS Chair at Torbay and was a member of the Local Negotiating Committee (LNC).

Currently, on the ENT UK SAS committee and the ENT SAS representative on the SSB Edinburgh.

Rest of the time is divided between gardening, golfing and cooking!

Mrs Gillian Winter (MBChB, MRCSEd, DipMedEd) graduated from Aberdeen Medical School in 2004 and undertook her paediatric surgical training in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Birmingham. She was appointed as a Specialty Doctor in Paediatric Surgery at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) in 2017. She was Clinical Lead for Paediatric Trauma for the North of Scotland from 2019-2023. She is currently lead for simulation within RACH as well as being chair of the patient safety group. She is heavily involved in medical education across both undergraduate and postgraduate training programs. She has recently been appointed as lead for Aberdeen University medical student placements within RACH. Gillian undertakes core surgical training interviews and in the future hopes to become an examiner for MRCS.

Mr Paul Z. Yang (MBBS, MSc, PhD, PgC, MRCS(Ed & Glasg), MFSTEd) is a Specialty Doctor in Vascular Surgery at NHS Lanarkshire. Following his initial medical training, he pursued a period of full-time research, earning MSc (Med Sci) and PhD degrees in cardiovascular science from the University of Glasgow. In 2018, he was appointed as a Specialty Doctor. Throughout his career, Mr Yang has developed interests in surgical education and research. He holds the position of Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, where he supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Additionally, he serves as a Tutor for the MSc in Surgical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. He holds a Diploma of the Membership of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers (MFSTEd). Mr Yang actively participates in various committees representing SAS doctors nationally. He served as Deputy Chair of the SAS Committee at BMA Scotland from 2020 to 2022. He represents SAS on the Surgical Specialty Board (SSB) in Vascular Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) since 2021.