IBMS Congress 2023

Ian Smith

Head of Laboratory & Clinical Trials, Veritie Group

Ian was previously based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, managing laboratory services across antenatal and new-born screening; mass spectrometry, and Point of Care Testing (POCT).

For over 10 years Ian led on POCT for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and worked with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust to develop community POCT services.

Oxford’s POCT team has evaluated and introduced a variety of POCT applications across hospital and community settings, and now supports a service that incorporates over five hundred connected devices.

Since December Ian has been working with Veritie Group, a new company, developing POCT applications using Raman spectroscopy.

Dr Johnathan Garvey

Specialist Doctor in community Geriatrics and Frailty, East Kent Frailty team and Home Treatment Service

Dr Jonathan McGarvey is a Specialist doctor in community Geriatric medicine for the Kent community health foundation trust. He is joint Specialty lead for the Frailty virtual ward, overseeing a diverse team of healthcare professionals providing hospital level care at home, to patients living with Frailty.

Building on experience gained during hospital based geriatric medicine, Dr McGarvey has worked in the community for the last 3 years promoting patient involvement in the decisions around their treatment and care.

As Speciality lead for the Frailty virtual ward his goal is to develop and promote a safe and effective alternative to hospital admission for patients living with Frailty; to promote ageing well, and preserve the quality of life that is increasingly valuable as we grow older. 

Sheri Scott

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science and IBMS Council Member, Nottingham Trent University

Sheri Scott is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science and course leader for the BSc Applied Biomedical Science (Healthcare Science Apprenticeship) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). She teaches Clinical Biochemistry and is module leader and lecturer for the Biomedical Science in practice and Professional practice undergraduate modules. Sheri works closely with the employability team at NTU to help prepare students for a career in Biomedical Science.

Sheri joined NTU in January 2018 after a career covering 22 years working in Clinical Biochemistry in NHS laboratories. Her previous roles include Senior Biomedical Scientist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, Training lead in Blood sciences at Royal Derby hospital and a Biomedical Scientist at Nottingham City Hospital.

Sheri is a chartered scientist and registered HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist professional and is an active fellow member of the Institute of Biomedical Science. Her professional activities include assessor for the Science Council, IBMS Clinical Biochemistry advisory panel member, chief examiner of the higher specialist diploma, local CPD officer and verifier/assessor for the IBMS registration and specialist portfolios. She is also involved in the national STEM ambassador programme, promoting careers in science in schools.

Sheri’s myriad of professional activities and strong links with local hospitals provide continued professional insight, supporting students within Biosciences at NTU.

Dr Martin Myers MBE

Consultant Biochemist , Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Martin Myers is a Consultant Healthcare Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Laboratory Director for Clinical Biochemistry. Dr Myers is also the Lead Scientist for the Trust and Chairs the Trust Point of Care Committee. Whilst at Preston Dr Myers has undertaken a continuous program of pathology redesign, improving the clinical and operational effectiveness and productivity of pathology. During this time he was the Associate Divisional Medical Director of Pathology for 4 years and Clinical Director of Pathology for 14 years.

Dr Myers is currently the Senior Clinical Advisor for the NHS Pathology Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme, which has undertaken a 3 year evidenced-based review of Pathology services in England in order to improve quality and reduce unwarranted variation. The National report was launched in 2022 and the GIRFT Clinical Team is now working on implementing the recommendations. Dr Myers is also the RCPath Representative on the MHRA Device Expert Advisory Committee (DEAC) and Chair of the MHRA IVD Expert Advisory Group.

His interests include the use of automation, point of care testing and informatics in improving the quality of the diagnostic process, and redesigning a pathology delivery that is patient-focussed. He introduced the “Laboratory Anywhere” concept to ensure that diagnostics are delivered in a variety of locations both inside and outside the hospital ensuring that diagnostics are embedded in the patient pathway, rather than remote from the patient.

As part of the COVID-19 response, Dr Myers sat on several regional and national groups for SARS-CoV-2 testing and advised NHS Supplies on gas analyser placement in the Acute and Nightingale sectors. He introduced many laboratory based tests to improve diagnostic support for patients with COVID-19 as well as 24/7 Rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing for patient being admitted and, as part of the recovery pathway, for different patient pathways such as Endoscopy, Day of Surgery etc. This model has now been expanded for Rapid multiplex GI and respiratory pathogens. He is currently working on rapid Lab in a Bag diagnostics as part of the mobile SDEC service.

Using the Laboratory Anywhere concept and the use of Lab in a Box Diagnostics, Dr Myers has taken diagnostics directly to the BAME communities and vulnerable groups in the community. He is a Trustee of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing charity where his “Blood Drop” team of Healthcare Scientists set up pop-up diagnostic clinics in the community as part of a “Health Mela”.

John Ringrow

Senior Assessment Manager Healthcare , UKAS

After gaining a degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Leeds University, John’s first post was as a company microbiologist in a small scientific consultancy specialising in foods, waters, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and sterile manufacture processes. His main interests however were in medical microbiology so he joined Poole PHLS and hospital microbiology laboratories, where he completed the then IBMS Special exam.

John then moved to County Durham, developed an interest in management and quality, gained qualifications in such and held senior, management then quality management posts until the end of 2005.

John joined CPA (UK) Ltd as a full time Regional Assessor in January 2006. CPA is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and since June 2013 he was an Assessment Manager (AM) with UKAS and from November 2014, promoted to Senior Assessment Manager.  John manages other AMs and is active in various projects, including training in ISO 15189, POCT, transition projects,  and developing training for new AMs. 

During John’s professional career and in his many outside interests and activities, John has always developed his interest in teaching, training and biomedical science promotion and career development and been active in education and development of scientific and support staff. He has actively promoted pathology to a wider audience within the NHS and has been involved in both medical and nursing staff education.

John has been involved in and tutored on courses for the IBMS, been a training/portfolio assessor for the CPSM and then IBMS, panel member for the HCPC and been a lay board member for the Northern Deanery involved with post graduate medical education. John has presented at numerous local and national meetings on both scientific and management themes, and now presents regularly on quality and accreditation themes.

When not working, John has a passion for all things “planes, automobiles, motorcycles and trains”.  He has a private pilot’s licence, although spiralling costs and time constraints have curtailed that pursuit for the time being. He is also planning to restore an MGF car.

Lisa Vipond

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

No bio provided

Rakhee Surti

Point of Care Project Manager, Milton Keynes University Hospital

Rakhee is a Specialist Biomedical Scientist with over 20 years of experience both in medical laboratory science and commercial diagnostics combined. She has extensive knowledge within the field of Biochemistry and more recently focused in POCT. She is currently working as a project manager leading discovery for POCT diagnostics within primary care, in partnership with Milton Keynes University Hospital and local ICB.

With a number of years spent in the field of laboratory science, she thrives for excellence, and also raises awareness of Biomedical Scientists and their pivotal role within the NHS, and wider community, with a strong focus on patient care at the heart of everything she works towards.    

David Wells

Chief Executive, IBMS

In June 2021, David became the IBMS Chief Executive following leading the NHS England and Improvement Pathology consolidation programme as Head of Pathology for NHS England and NHS Improvement. He led England’s pathology services in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that NHS laboratories were able to respond to the national need in standing up the required testing at pace and scale.

For three years running, David was recognised as being one of the top 100 most powerful advocates for pathology in the global community by The Pathologist magazine (2018, 2019 and 2020). 

Previously, as an elected IBMS Council Member for the London region, David was chair of the Membership and Marketing Committee. He has also represented the IBMS on NICE diagnostic advisory panels, and various national forums, including an observer on the Royal College of Pathologist Council and in the Parliamentary and Science committee.

In October 2020, the Royal College of Pathologists awarded David Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his contribution to pathology.