About Scottish Paediatric Society

The Scottish Paediatric Society (SPS) was founded in 1922 and was the first Paediatric Society in the UK. Since, its membership has progressed from a tiny number of senior doctors meeting in each others' homes to a Society of over 200 members.
SPS 100 years logo

Our principal purpose is to promote the health of children in Scotland. This is achieved by holding academic meetings and providing junior staff with funds to travel to international meetings.

Academic meetings and AGMs

There are two academic meetings each year. These meetings pivot around the presentation of clinical cases and research and audit projects. They benefit from friendly but incisive questions and comments from the audience.

Traditionally, the St Andrew’s Day Paediatric Symposium is held in November, and immediately preceded by the Annual General Meeting. The venue alternates yearly between Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and attendance is open to all members of the Society.

The Summer Meeting is hosted in another city or large town in Scotland, typically in June.

Constitution

The Society shall be called "The Scottish Paediatric Society" and its objects shall be the advancement of academic, scientific and clinical knowledge of Child Health and Paediatrics and the promotion of friendship among paediatricians in Scotland.

Read full constitution

Governance and who we are

The SPS has a President, a Secretary and an Executive Committee (EC). The EC is elected by the members of the Scottish Paediatric Society at the Annual General Meeting, and also includes an Honorary Treasurer serving six years, and seven EC members who are elected for four years.

The President serves on the SPS Executive Committee as President Elect for the first year and then as President the following year. The Honorary Secretary and Treasurer is elected for a six-year term.

Rosie Hague on her bicycle

Dr Rosie Hague
President

Term started: November 2023
Term ends: November 2024

Dr Christine Findlay
President elect

Term starts: November 2023
Term ends: November 2024

Lana O'Hara

Dr Lana O'Hara
Honorary Secretary and Treasurer

Term started: November 2023
Term ends: November 2028

Other Executive Committee members

Nine EC members are elected for four years as follows:

  • Three members represent the four main academic centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow
  • Three members whose work is primarily out with the four main academic centres
  • One member from either an academic or non-academic centre
  • Two members represent the trainees

Dr Dave Beattie
Consultant Paediatrician, University Hospital Wishaw

Term started: November 2023
Term ends: November 2027

Dr Gulshan Malik
Consultant Paediatrician, RHC Aberdeen

Term started: November 2019
Term ends: November 2023

Umair Khan

Dr Umair Khan
Consultant Paediatrician, RHSC Edinburgh
Umair.khan@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Term started: November 2018
Term ends: November 2024

Dr Stuart Henderson
Consultant Paediatrician (Highland)

Term started: June 2023
Term ends: June 2027

Dr Kristyna Bohmova
Consultant Paediatrician (Forth Valley)

Term started: November 2020
Term ends: November 2024

Jamie Cruden

Dr Jamie Cruden
Consultant Paediatrician (Fife)

Term started: November 2020
Term ends: November 2024

Dr Carla Visocchi
Trainee Paediatrician,
Trainee Representative

Term started: November 2022
Term ends: November 2026

Dr Niall Donaldson
Trainee Paediatrician,
Trainee Representative

Term started: June 2024
Term ends: June 2028

VACANCY

    There are two more posts co-opted to the SPS ED: Officer for Scotland of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and a Scottish Association of Community Child Health (SACCH) representative.

    Mairi Stark

    Dr Mairi Stark
    RCPCH Officer for Scotland and Consultant Paediatrician

    Elected: February 2021
    Term ends: February 2026

    Dr Alison Mcluckie
    SACCH Representative and Consultant Paediatrician

    Elected: November 2023
    Term ends: November 2027

     

     

    Membership

    Membership of the SPS provides great opportunities to promote the health and welfare of children, to further academic interests, to learn from colleagues and is always thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling.

    Apply to join SPS

    Past officers

    Presidents

    • 2022-23 - Steve Turner
    • 2021-22 - Patricia Jackson
    • 2019-21 - Mary Callaghan
    • 2018-19 - Helen Mactier
    • 2017-18 - Sheena Kinmond
    • 2016-17 - Donald Macgregor
    • 2015-16 - Ishaq Abu-Arafeh
    • 2014-15 - Jack Beattie
    • 2013-14 - Ian Laing
    • 2012-13 - Robert McWilliam
    • 2011-12 - Robert Simpson
    • 2010-11 - Peter Helms
    • 2009-10 - Ann Harvie
    • 2008-09 - Neil McIntosh
    • 2007-08 - Ruth Thomson
    • 2006-07 - Richard Olver
    • 2005-06 - John McClure
    • 2004-05 - Peter Smail
    • 2003-04 - Tom Turner
    • 2002-03 - Keith Brown
    • 2001-02 - Leyla Al-Roomi
    • 2000-01 - William Uttley
    • 1999-2000 - George Russell
    • 1998-99 - Ian Ruthven
    • 1997-98 - Alistair Blair
    • 1996-97 - Norman Coutts
    • 1995-96 - Krishna Goel
    • 1994-95 - Valerie Marrian
    • 1993-94 - Forrester Cockburn
    • 1992-93 - Colin Galloway
    • 1991-92 - James Syme
    • 1990-91 - Alexander Campbell
    • 1989-90 - Eric Coleman
    • 1988-89 - Sydney Wilson
    • 1987-88 - W. Morton Fyfe
    • 1986-87 - Gavin Arneil
    • 1985-86 - James Farquhar
    • 1984-85 - Alexander Speirs
    • 1982-84 - Ross Mitchell
    • 1980-82 - J. Oman Craig
    • 1978-80 - W. Hugh Galloway
    • 1976-78 - Robert Shanks
    • 1974-76 - Donald Douglas
    • 1972-74 - John Forfar
    • 1970-72 - Patrick MacArthur
    • 1968-70 - John L. Henderson
    • 1966-68 - James Hutchinson
    • 1964-66 - James Thompson
    • 1962-64 - Richard W. B. Ellis
    • 1960-62 - Douglas Nicholson
    • 1958-60 - Angus MacGregor
    • 1956-58 - John Craig
    • 1954-56 - Stanley G. Graham
    • 1950-54 - Charles McNeil
    • 1946-50 - Geoffrey B. Fleming

    Secretaries

    • Current - Lana O'Hara
    • 2016-2023 - Lynn Macleod
    • 2010-2016 - Christine Findlay
    • 2003-2010 - Ishaq Abu-Arafeh
    • 1999-2003 - Donald MacGregor
    • 1994-1999 - John B. Beattie
    • 1987-1994 - Alistair Blair
    • 1980-1987 - Colin Galloway
    • 1964-1980 - Eric Coleman
    • 1957-1964 - Ross G. Mitchell
    • 1948-1957 - James H. Hutchison
    • 1946-1948 - George L. Montgomery

    Secretaries of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Paediatric Club

    • 1922-1926 - Leonard Findlay
    • 1926-1933 - Lewis H. F. Thatcher
    • 1933-1946 - Noah Morris

    You can also view the winners of our past prizes.