Education & Training, Mentorship & Leadership, DE&I
ASGBI are the leading professional body for General Surgeons in Great Britain and Ireland, advancing surgical excellence and patient care. A relevant and inclusive community, we empower our members to excel, by promoting innovation, collaboration, and best practice.
Our Goals
To represent general surgeons in the wider healthcare community, working with stakeholders to shape future policy.
To promote diversity and inclusion within the surgical profession, recognising and valuing the contributions of all members.
To facilitate the highest standards of surgical education and training to improve patient care.
To foster a culture of innovation and research in general, emergency and trauma surgery.
Ben Griffiths is a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Manchester Royal Infirmary where he has clinical interests in advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer and improving outcomes in emergency general surgery. Ben is an active member of the PelvEx, IMPACT and UKPEN groups and is widely published in the field of pelvic exenterative surgery. He has a significant funded research portfolio including being on the Trial Management Group for the NINR-RfPB LACES 1 and NIHR-HTA LACES 2 trials. Ben has a strong reputation for delivering surgical training and has developed, led and modernized multiple important educational events over his career. He is the current Director of Education and Training with the ASGBI. Away from work, Ben enjoys traveling in pursuit of good food and wine, stimulated by living for a year in Bordeaux.
Published
Apr 2025
Dr. Christian Macutkiewicz is a Consultant General and HPB Surgeon at Manchester University Foundation Trust and Director of The Gallstone Clinic and Manchester Hernia at Spire Manchester Hospital. He is the President of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI), the largest Surgical Association in the UK and Ireland, representing all General Surgical Specialties. He was previously the Director of the Scientific Program of ASGBI and has a passion for Education, Training and wellbeing. Dr. Macutkiewicz completed a first-class BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham and then went on to gain honours in his MBChB Medicine Degree at the University of Manchester. For his research into sepsis, he received an MD Doctor of Medicine from the University of Manchester, and then undertook his higher surgical training in the North West Deanery followed by a specialist HPB and Liver Transplant Fellowship in Leeds. He started his consultant career in Nottingham before taking up a post as a specialist pancreatico-biliary and laparoscopic surgeon at the prestigious St James’s University Hospital in Leeds where he spent five years treating pancreatic, duodenal, and bile duct cancers as well as emergency general surgery. He finally moved back to Manchester in 2018 to lead the general surgical service and set up The Gallstone Clinic and Manchester Hernia at Spire Manchester Hospital. His main interests are in the management of complex gallstone disease and hernia surgery, where he provides advanced laparoscopic techniques and robotic surgery. He is invited to give lectures around the world on the difficult gallbladder and gallbladder surgery, laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery, training and service development. Dr. Macutkiewicz is an expert reviewer for BUPA and the BMJ and has published widely in HPB and Emergency General Surgery, and written book chapters on Pancreatic Cancer, Duodenal Surgery and Gallbladder Surgery. He has led National Service Development projects on the management of acute gallbladder surgery and improved the lives of patients with symptomatic gallstones in the UK. Out of the workplace he enjoys cooking, travel, fine wine and golf. He has a Bulldog called Rupert who regularly joins him in meetings and can be seen at the ASGBI congress in 2025!
Published
Dec 2024
This engaging webinar explores the importance of flexibility in medical training and how it can be effectively supported and implemented. Chaired by Dr. Gill Tierney, the session brings together a distinguished panel to share insights and personal experiences: Dr. Jon Hossain discusses How HEE Can Support Flexibility, outlining the resources and strategies provided by Health Education England to enable adaptable training pathways. Dr. Martin King offers the ASiT View on Flexibility in Surgical Training, highlighting key perspectives and recommendations from the Association of Surgeons in Training. Dr. Alex Wilkins shares a personal account in LTFT and Shared Parental Leave: How I Did It... Challenges and Benefits, providing a practical perspective on navigating less-than-full-time training and balancing parental responsibilities. The session concludes with a dynamic debate among the faculty, exploring the broader implications of flexible training in medical education. This webinar offers valuable insights and practical advice for trainees and educators alike, emphasizing the need for adaptability in modern medical training.
Published
Nov 2024
This impactful webinar focuses on the GIRFT (Getting it Right First Time) initiative, showcasing practical strategies to improve patient outcomes and enhance service delivery in healthcare. Chaired by Dr. Gill Tierney, the session features expert insights from a distinguished faculty:Dr. Mark Cheetham explores Using Data for Improvement & How to Use the Model Health System, emphasizing the role of data-driven approaches in optimizing healthcare services.Dr. David Bunting shares his experience in Improving the Acute Gallbladder Service in North Devon, highlighting tangible improvements in patient care and service efficiency.Dr. Cleo Kenington presents on General Surgery Same Day Emergency Care, providing practical insights into streamlining emergency surgical services for better patient outcomes.The session concludes with a thought-provoking debate among the faculty, discussing the broader applications of the GIRFT principles and the lessons shared during the webinar. This session is an essential resource for healthcare professionals seeking to implement evidence-based improvements in their practice.
Published
Nov 2024
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