On his appointment, Naeem said: 

‘After more than 20 years in the NHS as an SAS doctor, I am truly honoured to be appointed as the RCP SAS lead. I am the only SAS physician in my organisation (and possibly in Wales) to be appointed as a clinical director. In my health board, we have developed a bespoke autonomous working policy for SAS doctors, a GMC portfolio pathway support policy and network, and a dedicated support network for international medical graduates, amongst many other initiatives.

‘I want to take what I’ve learned in my local leadership role and expand on this work, collaborating with other medical royal colleges, the GMC, the SAS Collective, NHS Employers and the trade unions to help NHS trusts and health boards to put this in practice. 

‘I am proud to be an SAS doctor and a fellow of the RCP. Being an SAS doctor is a fascinating and fulfilling career in its own right and provides an exciting alternative for those doctors who do not want to follow a national training pathway to become a consultant.’ 

Dr Omar Mustafa, interim RCP registrar and Global vice president said: 

‘Welcome to Dr Aziz as the new SAS lead. I am delighted to have his expertise at the RCP. I look forward to collaborating with him, the SAS network and the wider SAS community on the RCP SAS strategy and advocating for SAS doctors.’

Dr Somaditya Bandyopadhyay is an international graduate from the Medical College, Calcutta, India. Sam is a specialist in geriatric medicine with an interest in ortho-geriatrics and Parkinson’s disease. He is also the joint training programme director for FY2 doctors in the trust.

Sam has been a member of the Education and Training Committee of the British Geriatrics Society since 2021. He created a support group through the social network of aspiring CESR (geriatrics) candidates and managed to add a few geriatricians who were successful in their CESR applications as mentors. The group is not exclusive to BGS members and is open to any SAS doctor who aspires to apply through the CESR pathway; 17 from this group of more than 70 doctors have applied for CESR (geriatrics).

Sam was concerned about the strikes affecting the work pattern of the SAS doctors and successfully appealed to the GMC and JRCPTB through the British Geriatrics Society in July 2023 to extend the deadline for CESR applications under the old curriculum from 31 August 2023 to 31 October 2023. 

He works in close collaboration with the Workforce Committee of the British Geriatric Society and believes that, with their wealth of experience and knowledge, the SAS doctors are one of the solutions to the workforce crisis in the NHS. 

Specialty doctor in geriatris and stroke medicine, Ulster Hospital.

Dr Sequeira has been working autonomously since 2022 and took up a part time role as locum consultant, while maintaining his SAS role. He has also been a local negotiating committee member of his health board since 2016. Dr Sequeira has been successful in obtaining a full-time specialist grade job in the department of care of the elderly in community division at Royal Gwent Hospital. 

To be selected as the RCP SAS representative for Wales is a real honour. I am here to share my experience as a SAS doctor and to work towards ensuring the SAS doctors have equal access to educational opportunities and progression in their careers, while supporting their involvement in the delivery of education, training, and academic activities. I have been an associate member of the RCP for many years and encourage my SAS colleagues to actively take part in RCP activities in order to improve their knowledge and understanding of the RCP’s role in their professional development.