Paul Banaszkiewicz

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead

Paul graduated from Glasgow University, completing his basic SHO surgical training in the Merseyside Deanery and then undertook specialist registrar training on the North East of Scotland training programme.  He was appointed as Hip and Knee arthroplasty surgeon at Queen Elizabeth hospital Gateshead in 2004.

He is passionate about training and medical education being a fellow of Higher Education Academy, fellow Academy of Medical Educators and has a Master’s degree in Medical Education.

He is an RCSEng member for the appointments accreditation committee (AAC) and RCSEng quality assurance and accreditation assessor for courses seeking RCSEng course accreditation. 

Paul is visiting professor at Northumbria University this role acts as an interface between the academic roles Northumbria University provides and his own clinical oriented background that provides a practical focus for research.

He has been a strong supporter of the BOA Futures Leadership Programme and the BOA annual Travelling Fellowships.  He is a keen supporter of BOTA being regularly involved with their annual instructional course and sponsor of BOTA travelling fellowships. 

Paul is the main editor and author for three FRCS (Tr&Orth) related exam books that are international best sellers and have won several BMA book awards.  He co-ordinates an annual six-day intensive FRCS (Tr&Orth) revision course at Newcastle. In recent years Paul has run its international equivalent for overseas trainees with courses taking place in Dubai, India, Singapore and Jordan. 

For many years Paul was involved in humanitarian work in Northern Iraq regularly visiting the region to undertake neglected hip and knee arthroplasty surgery.  This gave him a greater appreciation and understanding of our own health care system.  Many patients would have continued to struggle due to a lack of local expertise and resources to pay for expensive surgery.

Through the contacts he has made overseas Paul is keen to develop the international profile of the BOA.

In his spare time, Paul is a keen runner, skier, gardener and Burnley FC fan.

Irrum Afzal

Honorary lecturer, Imperial College, BOSTAA Committee, OREF Non-Executive Board Member, NOA Director's Award, SWLEOC London

Irrum graduated with a distinction from Imperial College London. Irrum is MICR, MRQA, and a Master of Public Health qualified researcher. Irrum has both research and management experience. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Sustainability Studies and has successfully completed both the PRINCE2 Practitioner and Foundation exams.

Irrum holds multiple positions of responsibility, including being a professional member of the Research Quality Association (RQA) and a professional member of the Research Ethics Committee for the Health Research Authority (HRA). Irrum regularly attends HRA meetings, actively providing her expert opinion and guidance on research ethics and governance.

Irrum is an honorary lecturer at Imperial College London, an active member of the British Orthopaedic Sports Trauma & Arthroscopy Association (BOSTAA) Committee, BOSTAA Research Committee in line with the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), and is the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity Lead for BOSTAA. Additionally, Irrum is a Non-Executive Board Member of the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF).

Irrum has published in various peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at national and international meetings. Irrum most recently received the National Orthopaedic Alliance (NOA) Director’s Award.