Your chance to influence what goes on at BGS meetings: the Deputy Honorary Meetings Secretary role

Hui Sian Tay is a consultant physician in Geriatric and General Medicine in Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. She is the current BGS Deputy Honorary Meetings Secretary. She tweets @HuiSianTay

What is the role?

As BGS Deputy Honorary Meetings Secretary, I have the privilege of representing BGS members at the BGS Meetings Committee meetings. The meetings are held four times a year, two on Friday of spring and autumn conferences and the other two meetings are in January/ February and June/ July at Marjory Warren House, which can be joined via tele/video-conferencing.

Together with the BGS’s Vice President in Education and Training, Vice President of Research and Academic Development, Vice President of Clinical Quality, Trainee representative, Nurse/ Allied health professional Representative and Director of Learning and Professional Development, we generate the programme for the BGS bi- annually scientific meetings, supported by the rolling Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme. 

I also liaise with the Director of Learning and Professional Development to identify and secure sponsorship opportunities for various facets of the meeting, in particular satellite symposia arranged by pharma/nutrition and medical device organisations. Together with the Honorary Meeting Secretary and the Director of Learning and Professional Development, we produce the final programme (including parallel session events) of the scientific meetings. Both the meetings secretaries will need to be available throughout the event to provide guidance and help where necessary.

Planning and organisation of the programme is undertaken in my own time and takes up one hour per week on average. After two years as Honorary Deputy Meetings Secretary, I will be promoted to Honorary Meetings Secretary automatically for a further two years.

What are the benefits of the role?

Whilst this is a demanding role within the Society it is also extremely rewarding, as it entails working with enthusiastic clinicians and representatives from related organisations. I have had the opportunity to invite world-renowned speakers to speak in these conferences. I have been the session chair at the conferences as well. I get complimentary registration at the BGS biannual conferences. Most importantly, I get to have some influence on the scientific programme itself.

Together with the Honorary Meetings Secretary, we strive to provide the best programme we can to enable colleagues to deliver the high quality, safe healthcare to our older population.

Why I applied for this role

I applied for the post of BGS Honorary Deputy Meetings Secretary as I am passionate about teaching and education. In this post, I’ve managed to significantly contribute to and enhance the planning of the scientific conference programme which I’ve enjoy immensely.

I demit from my previous roles as BGS Education and Training Committee and JRCPTB Specialty Advisory Council trainee representative in November 2017. As a member of the BGS trainee council for two years, I have gained an unrivalled experience and have a good insight into how the committee and society operate, which have been extremely helpful for the role of Deputy Meetings Secretary.

Why should you think about applying for the role?

If you feel strongly about the meetings from the viewpoints of education and finance (as well as the social side), you are the right person for this role. Qualities required include good organisational skills and a calm approach when coping with multiple demands on your time.

This role is strongly supported and assisted by the Director of Learning and Professional Development, the Conferences and Events Manager plus other BGS staff and past office holders.

If you are interested in applying for the Deputy Meetings Secretary role, please feel free to email me at huisiantay@nhs.net