Scientific Committee

The aim of the Scientific Committee is to advance study & research in Foot & Ankle surgery.

 

Key activities of this committee include:

  • Supporting research through the awarding of grants.
  • Facilitating surveys of the BOFAS membership.
  • Abstract reviews for both the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) and BOFAS annual scientific meetings.
  • Award of prizes for the best podium and poster presentations at the annual scientific meeting.
  • Support in finishing scientific papers for publication.
  • Development of national practice guidelines.
  • Development of commissioning pathways.
  • Guidance in HRG coding.
 

Membership of SciComm:

  • Chair:  David Townshend
  • Member: Toby Jennison
  • Member: Sarah Johnson-Lynn
  • Member: David Loveday
  • Member: Dev Mahadevan
  • Member: Nijil Vasukutty
  • Co-opted: James Ritchie
 
David Townshend - Chair Scientific Committee

David Townshend graduated from Newcastle University and completed his surgical training in the Northern Region. He undertook a research fellowship in New Zealand and Foot and Ankle fellowship in Vancouver, Canada before taking a consultant post with the Northumbria NHS Healthcare Trust in 2010. Dave leads an active foot and ankle research team in Northumbria and is an MSc Supervisor for Bath and Dundee Universities.

Elected Chair March 2023

Toby Jennison

Toby Jennison is a Consultant orthopaedic foot & ankle surgeon at University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust. He completed a Foot & Ankle Fellowship in Sheffield Teaching Hospital and was a TIG Major trauma fellow at University Hospital Birmingham. Toby also worked with the NJR as a research Fellow.

Elected March 2023

Sarah Johnson-Lynn

Sarah Johnson-Lynn is a Consultant Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, with interests in diabetic foot surgery and foot and ankle trauma. She graduated from Newcastle University and completed specialty orthopaedic training in the North East. Fellowships in foot and ankle surgery at Addenbrookes Hospital and in trauma and limb reconstruction at Leeds General Infirmary followed, as well as a British Orthopaedic Research Society travelling fellowship in Asia and Australia. She completed a PhD at Newcastle University, continues to lead clinical and qualitative research projects and teaches on the faculty of several national courses.

Elected March 2021

David Loveday

David Loveday is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust. He was appointed in 2012 after higher surgical training in East Anglia with a specialist foot and ankle fellowship in Liverpool. Following his interest in research he has been an NIHR Investigator for several studies, recruiting Norfolk patients with various foot and ankle problems including arthritis, trauma, tendinopathies and diabetic ulceration. He is also a regular reviewer for the “Foot and Ankle Surgery” journal.

Elected March 2021

Dev Mahadevan

Dev Mahadevan is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Trust. He graduated from the University of Nottingham and completed his specialist orthopaedic training in the East Midlands Deanery. His fellowship training was at the Avon Orthopaedic Centre in Bristol. Dev is actively involved in research and has a strong research portfolio. He is committed to medical education and is a faculty member of several national courses.

Elected March 2021

Nijil Vasukutty

Nijil Vasukutty is currently consultant orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon with his NHS practice based in United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust. He completed his foot and ankle training in Southampton University Hospital and University Hospital of South Manchester, followed by Diabetic Foot training at King's College Hospital. He has maintained a keen interest in research with several publications in  foot and ankle surgery and lower limb arthroplasty in addition to large number of national and international presentations. Mr Vasukutty has a postgraduate qualification in medical education from University of Glasgow. His educational roles include Academic Lead for Orthopaedics at University of Lincoln Medical School, College Tutor and Specialty Education Lead at United Lincolnshire Hospitals (Boston site). His current research interests are mainly around diabetic foot surgery.


Elected March 2023

Mr James Ritchie - Co-opted Scientific Committee

James Ritchie is a Consultant Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon based in Tunbridge Wells and was appointed in 2005.  He trained in the SE Thames Region and has undertaken a Specialist Foot & Ankle Fellowship at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore.  He is committed to medical education and runs the South East Thames Foot and Ankle training programme and the Guy's Hospital Foot and Ankle Course .