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: Dev Mahadevan
  • Member: Madhu Tiruveedhula
  • Member: Nijil Vasukutty
  • Co-opted: James Ritchie
 
David Townshend - Chair Scientific Committee

Dave Townshend was born in Edinburgh and graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1997. He has been a Consultant in the Northumbria NHS Healthcare Trust since 2010 where he is also the Clinical Director of Research and Development. Dave is the current Chairman of the BOFAS Scientific Committee, Visiting Professor with Northumbria University and an Honorary Senior Lecturer with University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His Research fellowship was at the University of Otago, New Zealand and Foot and Ankle Reconstruction fellowship at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Dave’s research interests include outcomes of total ankle replacement, day case surgery and ankle arthritis networks.

Elected: 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  |  Re-elected: March 2024

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  |  Re-elected: March 2024

Madhu Tiruveedhula

Mr Madhu Tiruveedhula is currently working as Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon at Basildon Hospital, part of Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. His speciality interests are Adult Foot & Ankle surgery including Diabetic Foot reconstruction and Paediatric Orthopaedics. His primary aim is to promote preventive strategies for diabetic foot related complications and hence involved in organising teaching sessions and practical workshops. He organised workshops on Diabetic foot reconstructions, conducted webinars and speak as invited faculty in the national and international diabetic foot conferences. He co-organised the 9th Annual International Association of Diabetic Foot Surgeons conference in Nov 2023. He is currently working on PROMs for diabetic foot reconstructions and actively involved in publishing clinical outcomes.

Elected: March 2024

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 .