Dr Stephen Lim

How long you’ve been with the BGS as a member and why you joined the Society?

I have been a member of the BGS for 7 years. During my Foundation year training, I attended a regional BGS meeting and had the opportunity to present a poster. This was my first taster of BGS meetings, and it was an enjoyable and beneficial experience. I decided to become a member of the society when my career choice became clear, and I knew that Geriatric Medicine was definitely for me. Access to the Age and Ageing journal and attendance at the bi-annual conferences were the main reasons that I felt that being a member of the BGS was important.   

What or who prompted you to apply to become an officer/volunteer?

I became interested in the position when I came across a notice from the BGS trainees’ bulletin about the trainees’ council. I had several conversations with trainees who had been involved with the council. Their positive experiences inspired and motivated me in putting myself forward to contribute towards the fantastic work that the trainees’ council do for junior doctors and trainees in Geriatric Medicine.

What do you most enjoyed about your role?

I was chair of the trainees’ council from 2017 - 2019. The greatest satisfaction for me in this role was the opportunity to meet, interact with and help support trainees from across the UK. I was able to learn, share experiences with them and help support or signpost trainees to the right people who were in turn able to support them in various matters. Informal conversations over dinner at the BGS Trainees Weekends were fantastic opportunities to get to know trainees better and helped me to better understand the regional differences in Geriatric Medicine training. This included things that worked well and the varying challenges that trainees faced.

The impact volunteering for the Society has had on your career and your personal development.

It was a steep learning curve when I started my role as chair of the trainees’ council and trustee of the BGS. Nonetheless, the opportunity has been invaluable and has helped me greatly in many aspects of my personal development. Some of the benefits have included: developing organisational and presentation skills, gaining experience in chairing meetings, as well as organising and supporting regional and national meetings. The opportunity to work alongside inspiring individuals within the BGS secretariat and among BGS officers; which included a wide range of healthcare and non-healthcare professionals, has also helped me greatly in my development as a clinician and as an individual.

How does it make you feel to be part of the BGS community?

I am proud to be part of the BGS community and will continue to play an active role within this fantastic community of healthcare professionals (also including many others from different walks of life), to advance our knowledge in the care of older people and to strive to provide excellent care for them.