Dr Tim Meek becomes new Association President Elect
Dr Tim Meek has been named as President Elect of the Association of Anaesthetists. He takes up this post at Annual Congress 2023 in Edinburgh today, before formally taking up the post of President of the Association in September 2024 at Annual Congress in Harrogate.
Tim was first elected to the Association board in September 2014. However, his first activity with the Association was before this, in 2007, as a working party member where he helped to develop and launch the Association’s Management of Local Anaesthetic Toxicity guideline, before helping to update the guideline in 2010. He went on to lead the development of the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) for anaesthesia emergencies, which has become one of the Association’s most popular publications.
During his term as an elected member, as well as sitting on the board, council and a number of committees, Tim was the chair of the Safety Committee and the Equipment Standards Committee, and also represents the Association on the Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG).
Tim was elected to the role of honorary secretary for two years, from September 2018 to 2020. He was appointed as a vice president in September 2021. He held this role until he kindly agreed to resume his role as honorary secretary for another two years in September 2022.
As chair of the Guidelines and Working Parties Committee, Tim has led on the review and updating of the Association’s guidelines which are one of our key outputs for members and anaesthetists across the world.
Tim trained in the north-east of England and has been a consultant anaesthetist since 2002 at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, part of the South Tees Hospitals Trust. His major clinical interest is obstetric anaesthesia, having been continually involved in obstetric anaesthesia since 1994 when he began anaesthesia training. His unit has over 5000 deliveries per year, including tertiary referrals. His current work plan also includes sessions in ortho-trauma and ENT.
Tim said “I am delighted that I have been given the chance to continue to work with the board and staff of the Association for a little longer and I am equally delighted that I will take up the post of president on ‘home ground’ in Harrogate. We currently face multiple serious challenges as a profession, as a specialty and, lest we forget, as actual or potential recipients of care; I will strive to continue the Association’s long and proud track record of advocating for clinicians and patients alike.”
Michael Stewart, chief medical officer at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to Dr Tim Meek on his appointment as President Elect of the Association of Anaesthetists. We are very proud to have one of our colleagues elected to such a prestigious role.
“We are confident that Tim’s influence in driving forward standards will be beneficial to us at South Tees as well as impacting on quality nationally.”