Advert / Job description Special Interest Group (SIG) Chairs

30 August 2019

The Research committee of the Vascular Society, guided by the results of a recent national, multidisciplinary, Delphi process now aims to establish 9 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in the following areas;

• Amputation

• Aorta

• Carotid

• Diabetic Foot

• Peripheral Arterial Disease

• Vascular Access

• Venous

• Wound Management

• Service Organisation, Access & Delivery

We wish to appoint 9 Chairs & deputy Chairs of these SIGs to support a national Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) with the James Lind Alliance (JLA) to help oversee the development of research priorities for the vascular specialty. Thereafter the SIGs will develop a portfolio of subspeciality studies to address these research priorities. It is envisaged that each of the 9 SIGs will have representation from vascular surgery, trainees, patients, and other appropriate affiliated groups.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a multi-disciplinary programme of research with national impact. Priorities have already been identified from the clinician perspective following a round of open survey. The next phase of this important work will be to obtain research priority questions and topics from vascular patients and carers, and to combine with the results of the clinician survey to reach a national consensus.

We welcome applications for Special Interest Group (SIG) chairs and deputy chairs, to work alongside the PSP over the next three years. The role of SIG Chair / Deputy Chair is voluntary but funding will be available to support key activities such as meetings and travel.

The following responsibilities are expected;

1. Establish, appoint members, and coordinate the activities of the subspeciality SIG. It is envisaged that the SIG membership will include both clinical and patient representatives. SIGs will be expected to have a minimum of x2 face to face meetings per year.

2. Driving forward research in these subspecialty areas through funding applications and developing a portfolio of research studies

3. Leading consensus workshop meetings to establish research priorities for the subspecialty area by combining questions/topics identified by both vascular clinician and patient survey responses.

4. Supporting research educational and trainee events such as the Vascular Society Annual Meeting by attending and presenting key findings.

5. SIG chairs will be co-opted members of the VSGBI research committee, providing an annual report of progress.

Please note that the SIGs are multidisciplinary and as such applications are invited from anyone in any vascular specialty area; surgical, nursing, technology, radiology, trainee, other. Applicants should be enthusiastic, motivated and interested in research. You should possess proven communication and interpersonal skills. It is important you are comfortable engaging with clinicians, students, patients and staff at all levels.

If you wish to apply, please submit a CV together with a covering letter stating the subspecialty SIG you would like to Chair, your motivations for taking this responsibility and your ideas to promote the SIG. 

Send your application to admin@vascularsociety.org.uk by the closing date of Monday 9th September 2019 and interviews will be held on Thursday 3rd October 2019 at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

For further discussion / information please Judith Long (PSP Coordinator) (Judith.long@hey.nhs.uk) or Professor Ian Chetter (PSP Chair) (Ian.chetter@hey.nhs.uk)

Thank you for your interest.

Professor Ian Chetter

Chair of Surgery HYMS / University of Hull

Chair Research Committee, Vascular Society GBI

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