December 2021 - a message from SAPC Chair, Carolyn Chew-Graham
Hello colleagues and friends.
I am sure we are all reflecting on what has been another challenging and busy year, and that we are ready for a break. I do hope everyone is able to get some rest and recovery, spending time with people who are special to you.
We were delighted to be able to run the ASM 2021 virtually with the Leeds conference team and Sue Stewart working extra specially hard to adapt to this new format. We are grateful to Speakeasy for their expertise and guidance. If you missed the keynotes you can still view them here.
Thank you to Professor Suzanne Richards and Professor Richard Neal and their team at Leeds for all the hard work put in to ASM 2020 initially and then 2021.
At the AGM (on 1st July 2021) members selected workforce and equality, diversity and inclusivity as priorities for the SAPC exec. We are in the process of taking these forward with small working groups.
I am delighted that Rupert Payne (already on exec) and Duncan Shrewsbury have become co-vice chairs for SAPC and will succeed me as co-chairs at the AGM in July 2022. We also welcomed Rachel Spencer as an elected exec member and Emma Healey was coopted as regional meetings liaison for SAPC.
Members of SAPC HOTs and HODs have continued to work with key members of the RCGP leadership team, to consolidate our working relationship and strengthen academic general practice and emphasise its relevance to primary care.
I have to announce that Sue Stewart has informed the Executive team that she intends to retire from her role as SAPC Secretariat (around the end of 2022) after over 20 years. We are all indebted to Sue and, personally, I feel the role of Chair would have been much more difficult without her support and knowledge. The Executive team are working hard on succession planning.
May I wish you all a peaceful time over the festive season, and hope that 2022 is a good year for all of us.
Carolyn
Prof Carolyn Chew-Graham
SAPC Chair
on behalf of the Executive Committee