Dr Claire Shannon qualified from Guys Hospital Medical School in 1987 and trained in anaesthesia in London, undertaking a fellowship in paediatric anaesthesia and PICM at GOSH. She was appointed as consultant at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in 1997. Her areas of interest within anaesthesia are paediatric cardiac and ENT.

She was clinical lead for paediatrics and theatres during the development of Evelina London, and has been involved in postgraduate education throughout the whole of her consultant career as college tutor, TPD, RA and Lead RA and 11 years as FRCA examiner.

She was Associate Dean for London Deanery in 2008,  Head of London Specialty School of Anaesthesia and ICM 2015-2020, co -chair of the Academy Board, Chair of the ICM STC and chaired ARCP panels. Her focus was also on developing leadership opportunities setting up leadership and transformation fellowships with Deloittes and CASS business school where she was medical director of the Executive Medical Management Leadership Masters degree.

Dr Sarah Thornton qualified from Leeds University in 1991. She created her own ACCS programme as a junior doctor, and then discovered the joy of anaesthetics – and never looked back.

She took up her consultant post with an interest in critical care in the year 2000 at Royal Bolton Hospital – a big district general hospital in a socially deprived area.

Sarah has always enjoyed education, and took on the role of trainee rep on the Specialty Training Committee during her anaesthetic training. As soon as she was able, she took on the role of College Tutor in 2003, in between fitting in three kids. After that she was appointed higher Training Programme Director in 2007, then in 2013 Head of School of Manchester for two years, and then Head of School for Manchester and Mersey from 2015. She is passionate about trainee wellbeing and has tried hard to look after her School during the pandemic.

Outside of work, she fosters guide dogs, likes running and skiing, and loves spending time travelling with her sound-engineer husband and kids.

If not an anaesthetist she would like to have been an international geologist or a spy!

Biography coming soon!

Dr Claire Mearns is originally a Yorkshire lass but undertook her medical training in the West Midlands and then specialist anaesthetic training in the South East region. She has been a Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust since 2005 and was clinical lead for Critical Care during the COVID-19 pandemic.  She is a dedicated educator, and served as College Tutor and then Trainee Support Lead for HEE KSS, supporting anaesthetic and ICM trainees across the region. 

Since 2013, Claire has been an examiner for the Royal College of Anaesthetists and currently serves as Chair of the Final FRCA examination. In this role, she is involved with the ongoing development of the examination process, standard setting and examiner training. Her commitment to high standards in education and clinical care continues to help shape the future of anaesthesia training in the UK.

Dr Chris Carey qualified from St Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London in 1995.   

After completing his anaesthetic training in the North West Thames region he was appointed as a consultant specialising in neuroanaesthesia at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (now University Hospitals Sussex) in 2004.   

He has held a number of educational roles as a consultant including College Tutor (2007-10), Head of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex School of Anaesthesia (2010-16) and Associate Postgraduate Dean (2016-24).  

He is currently Clinical Director for Neurosurgery, Plastics and Major Trauma at University Hospitals Sussex.  

Lewis is an anaesthetic registrar working at University Hospital Sussex on the south coast of England. He undertook an education fellowship with the RCoA during an out of program year where he took the lead on this cohort study, with the support of a team specially selected for the project.

Hanlie grew up in South Africa and after completing her medical degree she moved to Scotland to complete her post graduate training in Anaesthesia. She worked as a consultant anaesthetist in the West and Central Scotland before moving to Oxford in 2015. Her work involves anaesthesia for major emergencies, spinal trauma, urology and gynaecological procedures. She has been awarded for her compassionate care and previously nominated for the ‘Doctor of the Year’ award in Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

She was instrumental in establishing their departmental wellbeing and sustenance initiative during the pandemic. She is the lead for clinical governance in her group. She is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer with the University of Oxford where she  teaches medical students on their rotation in anaesthesia.

She has been an international key note speaker and published on wellbeing for clinicians as well as an expert speaker on airway management of patients with spinal trauma. 

She is a holistic clinician and practices as a career coach working with clinicians to prevent burnout and find clarity to navigate their career transitions.

She regularly practices yoga, reads as much as possible, loves the outdoors, the ocean and coffee.

Aidan Devlin is a Consultant Anaesthetist working at King’s College Hospital in London, with interests in medical education, liver transplant and regional anaesthesia. He has worked on both the 2010 and 2021 curriculum since spending a year at the RCoA as Education Fellow. He is a recently retired College Tutor and Chair of the Anaesthetic Curriculum Development and Assurance group at the College.

Joe trained in London and has been a Consultant Anaesthetist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ since 2021, where he works as a generalist with an interest in anaesthesia for vascular surgery. He contributed to the assessment strategy in the 2021 Curriculum, leading on implementing Entrustable Professional Activities for early milestones in the programme. 

For the past 3 years, Joe has worked with a growing multi-professional team in South-East London, devising the Generic Professional Capabilities Hub; an educational framework that supports learning in the non-clinical domains of the curriculum.

Biography coming soon!

Dr. Gethin Pugh is a Consultant in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine in Wales.  

Gethin is the Immediate Past-Chair of the RCoA Anaesthetic Curriculum Development Group (ACDAG).  Prior to this he was Chair and Deputy-Chair of the Curriculum Development Group between 2021-2024.

Most recently, Gethin led the development and implementation of the Non-Clinical Special Interest Areas (SIAs) for the 2021 Curriculum.

Gethin is also the Director of Educational Improvement for Health Education & Improvement Wales (HEIW) and Clinical Lead for Quality Improvement at HEIW.

Dr Suzy O'Neil is a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care working at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her interests include anaesthesia for major ENT and head and neck surgery, critical care outreach and management of the critically ill haematology oncology patient. She is passionate about education and trainee wellbeing and is a qualified mentor and coach. Following a period as FICM Tutor for intensive care she was appointed as ACCS Training Programme Director for the Northeast and North Cumbria. 

She is co-chair of the Intercollegiate Committee for ACCS Training. She works with Committee representatives from specialty Colleges and other bodies to oversee the ACCS curriculum, workplace-based assessment system and delivery of the training programme, and act on themes identified in national doctors in training and trainer surveys. 

Dr Roger Langford is one of the Bernard Johnson Advisors for training. Roger has spent the last 6 years as Head of School for the Peninsula deanery and was TPD and College Tutor prior to that. He has been a consultant anaesthetist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro for the last 14 years.

Russell Ampofo is Director of Education, Training and Examinations. He is responsible for developing and delivering the College's education, training and examination strategy in the UK and overseas. Russell provides leadership across the following College functions:

• development of trusted and high-quality anaesthetic educational opportunities, resources and content for members and others practicing anaesthesia and perioperative medicine in the UK and overseas
• delivery of world class training and career support and guidance to our members
• development and maintenance of standards in training curricula, assessment, recruitment for training in the UK and internationally
• supplying high-quality professional examinations for the specialty of anaesthesia, critical care and pain medicine.

Prior to the College, Russell worked at Public Health England, the Faculty of Public Health and Edexcel (Pearson) Education. In these roles, he had varied responsibilities including training, developing curricula, workforce development, examinations, national recruitment and quality.

Register of Interests

• Shareholder of Pearson PLC
• Member of the GMC AARA Assessment Board

Dr Jon Chambers is a DGH anaesthetist who trained at University College London Medical School, qualifying in 1998. Following anaesthetic training in Cornwall, Wessex and Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, he was appointed as a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care at Dorset County Hospital in 2008. His clinical interests include regional, colorectal, paediatric anaesthesia and critical care. He has recently completed a term as Clinical Director.

Since becoming a consultant, he has been focussed on supporting and developing the future anaesthetic workforce through working as College Tutor, Guardian of Safe Working and Regional Adviser in the Wessex School of Anaesthesia

Within the RCoA he held the role of Lead Regional Adviser and was proud to have been appointed as the first RCoA Bernard Johnson Adviser for Training. In addition to his work within education and training Jon has been involved in developing the Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation programme as a lead reviewer and Vice Chair of the ACSA Committee.

Using his experience and position on council, Jon will continue to work hard to provide the environment in which all anaesthetists can be supported to develop their career, whether within a formal training programme, as an SAS anaesthetist or as a consultant.

Outside of anaesthesia Jon enjoys golf, cricket, and music (playing the clarinet and saxophone). Jon is an avid armchair American football fan (Detroit Lions and Michigan Wolverines), a sport both of his boys now play.

Rachael was appointed as a consultant anaesthetist in 2014, working for 10 years at Salford NHS Foundation Trust and now at Macclesfield District and General Hospital. Rachael has a specialist clinical interest in regional anaesthesia. She been a College Tutor since 2019, and Lead College Tutor for the RCoA in 2023. Alongside these roles she has introduced the SuppoRTT programme at Salford and was the COVID Training Recovery Lead. She is a member of the RCoA Recruitment Committee as the ST4 Sub Committee Co-Chair . She maintains a keen interest in education, supporting and improving the training environment for trainees.

Simon is a Consultant in Manchester with clinical interests in anaesthesia for burns and obstetrics. He is currently one of the Bernard Johnson Advisors for Training at the RCOA. He has had a long term commitment to the training arena as College tutor, TPD and RAA. He was Lead RAA for 2 years and sat on College Council during that time. 

Steve Beglan Witt joined RCoA as Associate Director for Education, Training and Exams in June 2024 after 8 years at RCPCH leaving as Associate Director in Exams; 3 years at GMC as Project Manager; and 9 years RCP leaving as Head of Certification and Training Services.

All roles have been in education, training and exams capacities, with particular focus on curriculum development and implementation, assessment methodology and strategy, and continuous improvement/ change management.

Alison is a consultant anaesthetist at St James Hospital, Leeds with clinical special interests in sedation and obstetrics. She is Deputy head of school for Yorkshire school of anaesthesia and ICM and training programme director for stage 1 anaesthetics. She has been working towards reducing her doctors in training commutes by ensuring all doctors can preference and most recently helped develop a software algorithm with DB rota systems to do this automatically. Alison is an advocate for balancing work family and sport. When she is not cycling or running to work you can find in a swimming pool, as she continues to play national league waterpolo.

Omar Jundi is an Intensive Care and Anaesthetic consultant in Bradford Royal Infirmary. He has been College Tutor for 3 years and in that time has focussed most of his energy on improving the trainee experience. The main changes through which he has done this are the implementation of flexible rostering for his trainees and the deployment of his innovative and unique Anaesthetic Department App, which has revolutionised the way trainees interact with their department.

Gavin began working for the NHS 12 years ago as a healthcare assistant and now works as a trainee anaesthetist in West Yorkshire. At medical school, he co-founded Warwick Altitude Research Group and was involved in designing and implementing three international research expeditions. In his free time, Gavin enjoys cycle touring, trail running and long walks in nature (even more so if it ends at a good pub!)

Gavin is passionate about trainee well-being and recently identified a way in which to mitigate the impact of workplace commutes during rotational training in his deanery. With the support of his TPD, Dr Alison Colhoun, he founded the Reducing Trainee Commutes Initiative (RTC-I). Over the last 2 years, the RTC-I has collaborated with a software company to produce algorithmic software to assist TPDs in managing trainee data and to allow trainees to routinely preference their subsequent hospital rotations.

Mel Washbrook is a Senior Consultant at Work Psychology Group. She holds an MSc in Occupational Psychology and is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Mel has over 5 years’ experience working in selection and assessment in healthcare, both in the UK and internationally. She has extensive experience in designing and evaluating bespoke high-stakes assessment, including the ongoing annual design and evaluation of the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA). Mel has been the Project Lead for Anaesthetics’ use of the MSRA since its implementation in 2021.

Emma Morley is an Associate Director at Work Psychology Group. She is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and an Occupational Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Emma has over 10 years of experience working in assessment and evaluation in healthcare, as a practitioner and researcher. Specifically, she has designed and evaluated bespoke and innovative assessment solutions, and disseminated key learnings internationally through research publications and conference proceedings. In recent years, Emma won an award from the Association of Business Psychologists, Excellence in Using Business Psychology for Social Impact, for her work in designing a specialty choice tool for the British Medical Association.

Karine has been a consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust since 2008, initially as an intensivist with an interest in obstetric critical care and subsequently as an anaesthetist where she leads the vascular anaesthesia service. 

She has a career long interest in education, predominantly supporting and developing ACCS. She has served in roles including Faculty Tutor, College Tutor, Head of School for ACCS and she spent a decade on the Inter-Collegiate Committee for ACCS Training representing anaesthesia and later chairing the committee. She represented ACCS on the RCoA recruitment committee, anaesthetic training committee, curriculum committee, ACDAG and has been involved in the writing of the 2021 anaesthetic and ACCS curricula.

Karine’s commitment to advocating for the individual who doesn’t fit ‘the system’ has led to her involvement in establishing the Portfolio Pathway programme in Bristol. 

Outside of work she enjoys music, walking and spending time with her family.

Currently working as an anaesthetic clinical development fellow in Forth Valley.

Completed Stage 1 training anaesthetics in the north of Scotland. 

Multiple primary FRCA sittings leading to a late diagnosis of dyslexia. 

Interested in improving awareness of dyslexia and additional learning needs amongst anaesthetic colleagues. 

Biography coming soon!

Catherine graduated from the University of Leeds in 2014 and undertook her foundation training in the South Thames deanery.  She then completed four years as a clinical fellow in emergency medicine, anaesthetics and intensive care medicine.  After an initial flirtation with A&E, Catherine saw the light and commenced anaesthetic training in 2020.  At the time of appointment to the council, she is a ST4 dual trainee in anaesthetics and intensive care medicine. 

Her scenic route through training has meant she is very familiar with navigating through non traditional training routes and is a strong supporter of making that pathway more accessible in a time where competition for training numbers is increasing year on year.  Ultimately, ‘strength lies in differences, not in similarities’ and she is keen to promote that ethos at the college.    

Outside of anaesthesia, Catherine likes to undertake light (non-triathlete level) cycling and attempting to create an indoor jungle by building upon her 45+ strong houseplant collection all combined with a love for (too much) food.  

Dr Sophie Jackman is an CT4 anaesthetics fellow currently out of training whilst she applies for dual ST training in anaesthetics and ICM. Previously Sophie completed core anaesthetic training in Thames Valley and she is looking to continue her training in the East of England where she is in an ICU fellowship year at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.

Sophie is particularly interested in regional anaesthesia, ICM, obstetric anaesthesia and equal access of opportunity in anaesthesia training. She has conducted previous research from a local to an international level in investigating how men and women experience regional anaesthetic training differently. To this end, she is also a member of the #thisgirlblocks international social media campaign to promote women in regional anaesthesia.

All aspects of medical training and teaching interest Sophie and she loves to teach, pre- and post-graduate, anaesthetics or otherwise.

Outside of anaesthesia Sophie enjoys overly complicated board games, dungeons and dragons, cycling and attempting to learn the piano. Cheese (the eating of) also ranks highly on my list of pastimes.

At time of appointment Dr Matthew Tuck is an ST6 Anaesthetic (single CCT) trainee in the North East of England.

Matthew has a committed interest to the pay, conditions and welfare of my colleagues in the workplace.  A particular focus of mine on council was on the support offered to those challenged by the 2021 curriculum transition.

Clinically interests include regional anaesthesia, pain and outpatient vascular access. Outside of anaesthesia, Matt collects more books than he can read, and his interests include cycling, running and amateur allotmenting.

Dr Mary Doherty is a Clinical Associate Professor at University College Dublin School of Medicine and Consultant Anaesthetist at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, in Ireland, although she is currently taking a break from clinical practice to focus on research.

As founder of Autistic Doctors International, Mary has brought together a vibrant community of autistic doctors from across the world, with a focus on peer support, advocacy, research, and training.

Her research interests include healthcare for autistic people as well as experiences and support needs of autistic medical students and doctors. Current projects include the experiences of autistic psychiatrists and reasonable accommodations for autistic clinicians.

She developed the Autistic SPACE framework for meeting the needs of autistic people in healthcare settings, including anaesthesia.

As mother of 2 neurodivergent young people, Mary is passionate about optimising mental and physical health for autistic people and she believes that moving from traditional deficit framing of autism to a neurodiversity affirmative approach is the way forwards.

Biography coming soon!