Vacancies

Applications are now open for BSSH Fellows to stand for election to Council for the 2027–2029 term.

Council sits at the centre of the Society’s work, representing members, shaping decisions, and guiding the delivery of BSSH’s strategic priorities.

No prior committee experience is required just commitment, enthusiasm and a strong interest in advancing hand surgery.

How to apply

Council members play a crucial role within the BSSH, acting as both trustees of the charity and directors of the company. These positions carry significant legal responsibilities, so it is important to ensure you fully understand them before applying. You can find out more by CLICKING HERE 

You must:

Be a BSSH Fellow

Have a proposer and seconder (both Fellows)

Provide a short supporting statement

Send a head shot photo you are happy to be used on the voting software

If you've read the guidance and are ready to apply👉 CLICK HERE 👈Submit your application to charlotte.smith@bssh.ac.uk by 23:59 on Friday 31st July 2026.

Next Steps

Candidates will go forward to an electronic vote of Fellows. 3 new Council members are elected each year; the highest scoring plastic surgeon, the highest scoring orthopaedic surgeon and the next highest scoring surgeon regardless of specialty. Successful applicants will be announced at the AGM in November 2026.

Please note: canvassing is not permitted.

📩 Questions? Contact secretariat@bssh.ac.uk

We are inviting expressions of interest to join our Research Committee to serve for a term of three years (January 2027 – December 2029).

We have two positions becoming vacant. To ensure a balance on the committee, we are particularly seeking applications from Fellows on this occasion. If you would like to apply, please read the details below and apply by 09:00 Monday 13 July 2026.

The Research Committee is busy, impactful and collaborative. Its remit is to facilitate high-quality research into hand surgery conditions that is relevant to patients, clinicians and the NHS; and to encourage collaboration in fulfilling the research aims of the Society.

Activities of the committee include

• Award and oversight of BSSH Research grants.
• Delivery of the BSSH Research Day, support of free paper sessions at the BSSH Scientific Meetings and other outreach activities.
• Increasing visibility of BSSH-sponsored research activity and outputs.
• Facilitating multi-centre projects in line with BSSH research priority areas.
• Supporting the production of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

We are particularly looking for a member interested in leading/co-leading the production BSSH Best guidelines with support.

Meetings

The Committee formally meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn (in person or via Zoom). Additional ad-hoc meetings may be organised by the Chairman and committee membership as required. The elected members are expected to attend these meetings.

Requirements

The following credentials are required:

1. Fellow or Associate membership of the Society. To ensure a balance on the committee, we are particularly seeking applications from Fellows on this occasion.
2. A demonstrable interest in research/evidence based practice.
3. An enthusiasm to actively participate in collaborative, multisite, patient-centred research.
4. A willingness to lead and deliver a research committee specific project, in line with our remit and the BSSH strategic priorities.

Alexia Karantana

Chair, Research Committee

Apply Here

Lead the Future of Hand Surgery Education

The BSSH is seeking an enthusiastic and visionary Chair to lead the next series of our esteemed Instructional Courses. This is a unique opportunity to shape the educational experience of trainee and consultant hand surgeons and work with an outstanding national and international faculty to deliver an engaging, high-quality learning programme.

The Chair will oversee Series 10 of the BSSH Instructional Courses, which comprises six courses delivered over a three-year period from June 2027 to February 2030.

Whether your passion lies in curriculum development, faculty engagement, or innovation in learning, this role offers the chance to make a lasting impact on hand surgery education across the UK and beyond.

What You'll Be Leading

The BSSH Instructional Courses are one of the Society's most valued educational programmes, providing a comprehensive curriculum across the breadth of hand surgery. The courses currently combine traditional expert-led lectures with interactive case-based learning, practical discussion, and collaborative workshop sessions with industry partners.

The successful Chair will be appointed prospectively and invited to join the committee at its next meeting in February 2027, providing an opportunity to observe the current format, engage with the existing team, and help shape the next evolution of the programme.

The Role

Working closely with the Organising Committee, the Chair will:

• Lead the planning and delivery of six Instructional Courses covering the full spectrum of hand surgery.
• Shape the style, structure and educational content of the programme, ensuring it remains contemporary, engaging and relevant.
• Recruit and support an exceptional faculty, including leading national speakers and internationally recognised experts.
• Drive innovation in educational delivery and learner engagement.
• Promote the courses nationally and internationally.
• Develop relationships with industry partners and secure sponsorship to help keep delegate fees affordable.
• Chair committee meetings, held on the Thursday before each course.
• Represent the Instructional Courses Committee at the BSSH Council with attendance at meetings and reporting requirements 3 to 4 times a year.

Who Should Apply?

We are looking for someone with:

• BSSH Fellow membership
• Someone who has been a consultant (or equivalent) for more than 3 years.
• A passion for surgical education and developing future generations of hand surgeons.
• Experience of contributing to BSSH activities, ideally through previous committee or working group membership.
• Strong organisational and leadership skills.
• The ability to inspire colleagues and bring together a high-performing faculty and committee team.
• A vision for the future of hand surgery education.

Previous membership of the Instructional Course Organising Committee itself would be beneficial but is not essential. The prospective appointment process allows time to become familiar with the course structure and committee before officially taking on the role.

We also welcome applications from individuals interested in a joint-Chair model, whether as co-Chairs throughout the series or by sharing responsibility for one course each year.

Appointment Process

Where multiple applications are received, candidates may be shortlisted and invited for interview. The interview panel will comprise the current Chairs, a BSSH Council Trustee and/or an additional Council or Committee representative.

Why Take on the Role?

Few educational roles offer the opportunity to influence learning at this scale. As Chair, you will help define the educational journey of trainees, support the continuing professional development of consultants, and create a programme that inspires future leaders in hand surgery.

It is a highly rewarding position that combines educational leadership, collaboration, creativity and networking with colleagues from across the UK, Europe and further afield. While the workload naturally peaks around course delivery, it is an opportunity to leave a genuine legacy within BSSH education.

Deadline

Applications close: 09:00 on Monday 10th August 2026.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the current Chairs Mr Mike Lamyman and Mr Nick Riley via secretariat@bssh.ac.uk 

You can also find out more about the current series of courses (series 9) HERE.

Apply Here

Help Shape the Future of Hand Surgery Education

The BSSH Instructional Courses are a cornerstone of hand surgery training and professional development, inspiring and educating the next generation of surgeons while supporting the ongoing growth of established consultants. We are seeking enthusiastic and committed BSSH Fellows to join the Instructional Course Organising Committee for a three-year term from February 2027 to January 2030.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in designing and delivering one of the Society’s flagship educational programmes, working alongside a dedicated and experienced faculty to influence the training of future hand surgeons across the UK and beyond.

To maintain balanced representation on the committee, we are looking to appoint:

• One Plastic Surgeon.
• One Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should:

• Be a BSSH Fellow and have been a Consultant or equivalent for at least three years.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm, energy and commitment to surgical education.
• Be available to attend the next Committee and course in Manchester from 4 – 6 February 2027.

Committee Commitments

The Committee meets in Manchester twice each year, on the Thursday preceding the Instructional Course, which takes place on the following Friday and Saturday. The courses are held every February and June, and committee members are expected to attend all meetings and courses during their tenure.

Duties and Responsibilities

Committee members work closely with the Chairs and fellow committee members to deliver a high-quality educational programme. Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Chairs with the planning and organisation of one course within the three-year cycle, including developing a draft programme.
• Attending all Instructional Courses and committee meetings.
• Chairing educational sessions and contributing cases for discussion.
• Taking responsibility for one of the following committee portfolios throughout the three-year term:
  • Promoting the courses to hand surgeons and trainees across Europe.
  • Securing industry sponsorship and support.
  • Managing the digital feedback system.
  • Coordinating faculty accommodation and the faculty dinner.
  • Providing practical support and problem-solving whenever needed.

Why Join?

Serving on the Instructional Course Organising Committee is a rewarding, enjoyable and highly educational experience. It offers the chance to collaborate with leading educators in hand surgery, develop your own leadership and organisational skills, and make a lasting contribution to the training and professional development of current and future generations of surgeons.

If you are passionate about education and would like to help shape the future of hand surgery training, we would be delighted to receive your application.

You can also find out more about the current series of courses (series 9) HERE.

Appointment Process

Candidates are scored by current Instructional Course Committtee members using the infomration given on the application form.

Apply Here

Application deadline
09:00 Monday 10th August 2026.

We are inviting expressions of interest from BSSH associate members to join our Global Partnerships Trainee Committee to serve for a term of two years from 2026 - 2029. There are 3 positions available for trainee BSSH members.

We are willing to take on trainee members with Plastic/Orthopaedic specialties, to ensure a fair balance on the committee.

If you are interested in being considered for membership of the Global Partnerships Trainee Committee, please register your expression of interest by completing an application form below.

For more details on the committee, please see below:

The overall vision of the BSSH Global Partnerships Committee is to use BSSH resources to deliver the maximum possible benefit for patients in need of hand surgery in under-resourced or low-income countries.

The Global Partnerships Trainee Committee work alongside the main BSSH Global Partnerships Committee to engage all trainees to develop and disseminate educational resources, and to coordinate the involvement of trainees in the wider work of the Global Partnerships Committee—developing and coordinating sustainable educational and surgical projects across the developing world.

The general responsibilities of the committee are:

• Promotion of BSSH overseas work among trainees to ensure projects are visible and accessible to all BSSH members
• Develop synergistic links with other similar trainee organisations
• Regular liaison with chair of main BSSH Overseas Committee
• Dissemination of global hand surgery educational resources among trainees
• Opportunities to work with a LMIC project country and as Covid restrictions ease, have the opportunity to travel.
• Responsibility of raising awareness to the work of the committee via social media, working with the committee on raising their virtual profile and promoting opportunities.

Apply Here