Gratitude is a powerful emotion and I am incredibly grateful to have had the privilege of the role of ASGBI President.
I’m grateful to you, the members we represent and without whom we would have no purpose.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to improve things for our patients.
Any leader is only as good as their team and I have been uniquely lucky. Our executive team: Christian, Jonny, Susan, Sonia, Nuha, Ben, Giles, Dimitris and Ravi have, in my opinion, been the best ASGBI executive team in over a century.
Each one the brightest and best surgeons of our generation, every one with their own unique talents and together, invincible. People who five years ago I did not know, and now I am grateful to call my friends.
Our mantra that ASGBI is where everyone matters has made us unique and powerful in modern surgery.
I’m grateful to the leaders who have gone before and handed on this precious century old institution to nurture and develop. I’m grateful to our trainees, those who have led the Moynihan Academy: Alan, Liz, Matt, Michael and Kelly, who have taught us so much about the life and requirements of a modern surgeon in a modern NHS and a modern world of surgery.
I’m grateful to our administrative team who have with diligence, intelligence and loyalty supported us in our evolution and helped us develop.
I’m grateful to the fellow surgeons who lead our sister organisations and Royal Colleges within surgery, we are all in this together and are more effective when we collaborate.
I’m grateful to our industry partners without whose support we could not provide our members with what they need, especially grateful for their vision in supporting new ways of working and I know these relationships will strengthen over the years.
While leading this organisation I have met royalty, politicians, surgical legends, patients, colleagues, trainees and school pupils. I’ve learnt much, we’ve published research and guidelines and encouraged changes in practice, changes in constitution even changes in theatre attire! We’ve contributed to the Covid enquiry, GIRFT, NELA, NCEPOD and taken part in national media debates.
Among all that high profile activity the standout moment for me was at our Congress in Harrogate, when a core trainee approached me shyly and said “I didn’t know surgery could be like this and I now know it’s for me”. I hope ASGBI has helped to demonstrate that there is a place for everyone in surgery and that the key attribute of any surgeon should always be kindness.
