BHIVA trustee elections 2025 – results of round one

NHS Lothian, Scotland
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

I have been a consultant in Infectious Diseases and General Medicine since 2019, and I am the Clinical Lead for HIV at the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit in Edinburgh. I am passionate about reducing harms associated with late diagnosis of HIV, combating stigma and improving access to testing and prevention. As the Scottish Government HIV Transmission Elimination champion for NHS Lothian, I have contributed to the development of HIV-specific resources for the Scottish Health and Social Care Workforce, as well as helping guide national priorities for blood-borne virus testing.

I have a research background in virology and a strong interest in education, having provided teaching on HIV medicine for local, regional and national educational curricula. I have chaired the SE Scotland HIV educational meeting since taking up my consultant post, expanding it to include colleagues from two adjacent health boards. I am also the Infectious Diseases representative on the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh symposium committee. This has provided me with invaluable experience in developing and overseeing specialty symposia and educational programmes, promoting the principles of inclusivity, equality and diversity.

Having benefited hugely from BHIVA resources throughout my training and consultant career, I am keen to contribute to the ongoing development of these and to work with colleagues to advance the care and quality of life of people living with and affected by HIV.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London

I am an HIV consultant at King’s College Hospital and am applying for a second term as a BHIVA trustee. I also serve on the Education and Scientific and Conferences subcommittees and want to help ensure that our members get excellent educational opportunities through BHIVA.

Clinically, I am passionate about re-engagement of people living with HIV who are out of care and removing barriers to care for marginalised groups. I sit on several steering groups to further this objective and am leading on the forthcoming BHIVA ‘Not in care’ guidelines.

My other interest is HIV-associated liver disease. I am jointly appointed by KCH Institute of Liver Studies and run a dedicated weekly clinic, lead SE London hepatitis ED testing and am on the BHIVA co-infection guidelines group.

If elected again, I would continue to serve BHIVA with enthusiasm and energy. I am always keen to hear from members about what we could do to improve BHIVA for them. Strategically, I would prioritise addressing health inequalities, stigma and issues affecting people living with HIV living in areas of deprivation.

Devon Partnerships Trust

I’m a new consultant, having completed my training in May 2024 at the Chelsea and Westminster in west London, and working more recently at St Mary’s, Imperial, until January of this year. My current main role is Specialty Doctor in Gender Medicine, for the Laurels Gender Identity Clinic, Exeter. I also teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level across the MDT spectrum on LGBTQ+ issues, trans medical care and reducing health inequalities.

The future of BHIVA, and the future of HIV care and research in the next three years, is inextricably linked to the current political and economic climate. In uncertain times, with funding streams threatened and key populations already feeling the impact, we’re in danger of losing all the progress we have made against HIV in the last 30 years, towards ending new transmissions and preventable complications by 2030. What we now need is a quick-thinking, adaptable approach to building our own sustainability; we can do this by enlisting the help of passionate and talented people from across the globe, covering all areas – clinicians, scientists and social scientists, the voluntary sector, and most importantly patients – in meaningful collaborations.

There are many parallels in the political conflicts affecting gender medicine, and likewise, it’s already having a knock-on effect on outcomes for our multiply-marginalised cohorts – many of whose care we share with HIV and GUM services.

By becoming a BHIVA trustee, I hope to foster good collaborative, representative working between HIV/GUM and gender care, representing the southwest at a regional level, whilst also helping BHIVA to look outward to the world stage, and strive to find opportunity and hope in times of crisis.