Congratulations to Dr Vinay Sehgal; successful recipient of the BSG Dame Parveen Kumar for Education and Training Award 2024

The BSG is pleased to extend their congratulations to Dr Vinay Sehgal, a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Interventional Endoscopist at University College London Hospitals for being awarded the BSG Dame Parveen Kumar for Education and Training Award 2024. The award recognises the work of excellent trainers in developing the future of the gastroenterology and hepatology specialty. 

As the recipient of this award, Dr Sehgal shall:

Receive recognition on the BSG website and be invited to attend the President’s Dinner at the BSG Annual Meeting in Glasgow.

Be awarded £1,000 to be used for a local education initiative of his choice.

Be invited to accept his award at the BSG Annual Meeting in Glasgow, receiving free registration for the day.

Will be invited to join the BSG Training Committee for a year and invited to write an education article of their choice for BSG with the person who nominated them, although neither are a pre-requisite of accepting the award.

Here are some extracts taken from his nominators’ statement. 

Leadership: As the Endoscopy Training Lead at UCLH, Dr Sehgal has developed and overseen a rigorous training program tailored to meet the individual needs of each registrar and fellow.

Dr Sehgal’s leadership is evident in his mentorship of fellows, some who are based outside of London. Despite geographical barriers, they thrive thanks to his support and direction. 

Resourcefulness: Dr Sehgal has been a driving force behind the introduction of innovative technologies at UCLH, including minimally invasive procedures such as endoscopic vacuum therapy and cryoablation. His ability to introduce complex techniques into training while maintaining patient safety is a testament to his resourcefulness and commitment to excellence in education.

Communication: Clear, empathetic, and effective communication is one of Dr Sehgal’s strengths. He is a natural educator, adept at breaking down complex procedures into simple step-by-step instructions. His communication is not only instructional but also motivational making us feel valued, respected, and capable of achieving our goals. Dr Sehgal creates an environment where feedback is constructive, allowing trainees to continuously improve.

Training and Development: Dr Sehgal has spearheaded several educational initiatives, including running the Basic Skills Gastroscopy Course, courses for transnasal endoscopy, and leading a GI Bleed Update teaching event for Brazilian healthcare professionals. He is also a proctor for the Cryoablation Forward Academy and frequently travels across Europe to mentor endoscopists in this technique. He also plays a role in proctoring at wet lab sessions for delegates at courses, most recently at the ISDE World Congress for Oesophageal Diseases. Moreover, he frequently encourages his fellows and registrars across the country to participate and contribute as faculty in these courses, developing their organisational and leadership skills.

Currently, he is mentoring three interventional endoscopy fellows while also collaborating with two fellows in other parts of the country, nurturing their interest in interventional endoscopy—a remarkable achievement for a young consultant and further evidence of his commitment to developing the next generation of specialists.

Professionalism: His interactions with colleagues, trainees, and patients are characterised by respect, compassion, and a genuine desire to improve outcomes. His ability to balance the demands of an expanding research portfolio with his educational responsibilities speaks to his dedication to both his profession and his trainees. He has developed a reputation as a trusted colleague and friend, someone who is always available to support trainees both professionally and personally during times of need.

The Dame Parveen Kumar Award for Education and Training (previously BSG Gold Trainer Award) is awarded annually to recognise the work of excellent trainers in developing the future of the gastroenterology and hepatology specialty. Excellent trainers are often under recognised members of our profession, not rewarded in the traditional ways through CEAs or grants or society recognition. They are the people who have the ability to turn things around for a trainee in difficulty and are the best advert of the society and profession to the next generation. Excellent trainers mean excellent training and safe patient care and an award will help raise the profile of training and education within the society and wider NHS.