BRITISH SOCIETY OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
REVISED GUIDELINES FOR SPONSORS AND APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP (March 2006)
(These Guidelines should be studied carefully before proposal forms are completed)
Membership of the Society should be regarded as an honour earned in recognition of contributions made to the
furtherance of gastroenterology. Election is thus not automatic and applicants are required to fulfil a number of criteria
in order to be successful. These Guidelines provide an indication of these requirements.
FULL MEMBERSHIP
Full Membership is intended as recognition of special interest, commitment and experience in any discipline, nonclinical, relevant to gastroenterology.
Candidates who hold a consultant, Associate Specialist or Staff Grade post in any gastroenterologically-related
discipline. The Nominations Committee seeks evidence of this in publications, scientific presentations (in particular to
the Society) and commitment to teaching and training. Those who have been appointed to a substantive consultant post
and those who are accredited gastroenterologists either with a CCST or on the specialist register need only submit a brief
c.v. and the signature of a proposer who will be a BSG member.
Clinical candidates who do not hold a consultant or other established hospital post (such as General Practitioners
and Clinical Assistants) should demonstrate a major interest in, and commitment to, gastroenterology in their work. For
example, a single weekly Endoscopy session will not be sufficient by itself. More sessions and/or an active research
interest will be expected and should normally have been demonstrated by publication or presentation at the scientific
meetings of the Society. Testimonials from two sponsors who will be BSG members are required. Sponsors should draw
attention to the particular contribution and experience of the candidate in the practice of some aspects of
gastroenterology.
Non-clinical candidates and candidates working in industry should show evidence of their active participation and
personal involvement in gastrointestinal research in the UK, usually by publication or presentation at the scientific
meetings of the Society. They should have a commitment to the Society and have contributed to gastroenterology.
Testimonials from two sponsors who will be BSG members are required.
INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP
International Membership is intended for those living permanently outside the British Isles and working in an established
post (or for Full Members resident abroad for more than two years). The same criteria apply as for Full Membership, but
in addition preference will be given to applicants who have worked in the UK at some stage in their career or who have
close professional links with British Gastroenterology, and who have regularly attended BSG meetings and are likely to
attend meetings of the Society at least once every three years.
TRAINEE MEMBERSHIP
Trainee Membership is available for trainees in any discipline relevant to gastroenterology, who are normally resident in
the UK or Ireland. Candidates will be enrolled in a recognised higher professional training scheme and possess a
Training Number or be a research fellow. For those holding an NTN in gastroenterology, the signature of a proposer
who will be a BSG member is required. All others require a testimonial from two sponsors.
While trainees entered on a Gastroenterology training programme have clearly indicated their specialty career preference,
it is less obvious for those entering training programmes in surgery, pathology, radiology, etc. For these trainees it is
likely that an interest in gastroenterology will only be manifest in the latter parts of their training programmes. Trainees
in these specialties wishing to become Trainee Members should therefore only submit their application when they can
provide evidence of their involvement in the gastroenterology subspecialty part of their training programme.
Medically qualified trainees intending a career in gastroenterology who have a research position in the field, but who
have yet to enrol in higher clinical training may also be eligible. The latter should preferably be able to demonstrate their
commitment through prior presentation at the scientific meetings of the Society or in other gastroenterology fora, and
should make it clear that they intend to pursue a career in which gastroenterology is a major interest.
Trainee Membership is not available to those who have completed a training programme and such membership
terminates at the next Annual Business Meeting following CCST. Application should then be made for full membership
by writing to the secretariat. It is not necessary to complete a new application form or obtain new sponsorship.
NON-CLINICAL SCIENTIST MEMBERSHIP
Non-Clinical Scientist Membership is specifically designed for non-clinical scientists and is intended as recognition of
special interest or experience in any non-clinical discipline relevant to gastroenterology.
Non-Clinical Scientist Members will be entitled to attend all Society meetings and hold office and vote in the affairs of
the Society. The subscription is set at a lower rate than that for Full members but members will not receive the Society
journal. Special concessions will be made regarding registration for the annual scientific meeting.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Associate Membership is intended for those who have a long-term commitment to some aspect of gastrointestinal
practice or research, but who are ineligible for other forms of membership. It is accordingly appropriate for
gastrointestinal nurses, dietitians, physiology technicians, nurse consultants and other non-medically qualified
individuals. Intending Associate Members should have been in a relevant post for at least one year, and their
commitment should be demonstrated by regular sessional contributions to gastrointestinal practice or research amounting
to a least two-and-a-half days per week.
NURSE CONSULTANT MEMBERSHIP
Nurse Consultants may either apply for Full or Associate Membership. It should be noted that the latter has a reduced
subscription.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
Men and women of distinction who have made outstanding contributions to gastroenterology may be recommended a
Honorary Members at the ABM. Nominations will be made through the Nominations Committee and will require the
written support of three Full Society members of at least ten years standing. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
members present at the ABM shall be necessary for election. Honorary members shall pay no subscription, but shall
receive Gut. They shall be entitled to vote but shall not hold office after retirement from active practice.
BRITISH SOCIETY OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
PROPOSAL FOR MEMBERSHIP
Candidates appointed to fulltime consultant posts in a gastrointestinal specialty, those with a CCST or on the specialist
register, and those trainees with an NTN in gastroenterology require the signature of a proposer who will be a Full
member of the Society. All other applicants require testimonials from two sponsors.
Candidates should complete this form and return it direct to the BSG Secretariat, 3 St Andrews Place, London NW1
4LB. The candidate should give one sponsorship form and a copy of the Guidelines for Membership to each sponsor (if
appropriate) and ask them to return the form independently to the secretariat.
NAME
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Type of Membership applied for : Full/International/Trainee/Clinical Scientist/Nurse Consultant/Associate
Address _______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Email address _________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth _________________________________________
Degrees (with dates) ___________________________________________________________________________
Present Appointment __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
It this appointment ‘established’ (i.e. until retirement)?
It you are in training, are you in a recognised Higher Training Scheme?
Yes
/
No
Yes / No
Give No. _________________
Expected date of award of CCST ________________________________________________________________
Name of Sponsors
(only required for
some appointments see above)
(1)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Experience and special interests in gastroenterology, including previous appointments, training and practice,
publications and presentations to the BSG and other Societies.
(USE THIS SHEET ONLY. DO NOT SEND FULL C.V.)
BRITISH SOCIETY OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
SPONSORSHIP FORM
Candidates must be sponsored independently by two members of the Society unless they hold a substantive consultant
post in a gastrointestinal specialty/have a CCST in gastrointestinal/are on the specialist register/hold an NTN in
gastroenterology. This form should be completed and returned direct to the BSG Secretariat, 3 St Andrews Place,
London NW1 4LB
Please read the enclosed guidelines for sponsorship before completing this form. The Nominations Committee relies
upon you for a realistic assessment of the candidate’s involvement and experience in gastroenterology.
Name of Candidate (capitals)
_______________________________________________________________________
Name and Address of Sponsor _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Experience and special interest of the candidate in gastroenterology, and evidence of continuing involvement in the
specialty.
Signed _________________________________________________________________
Date __________________________________________________________________
OR
I certify that the candidate holds consultant post in a gastrointestinal specialty/has a CCST in a gastrointestinal
specialty/is on the specialist register/holds an NTN in gastroenterology and fulfils the criteria for membership of the
BSG.
Signed _________________________________________________________________
Date __________________________________________________________________
BRITISH SOCIETY OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
SPONSORSHIP FORM
Candidates must be sponsored independently by two members of the Society unless they hold a substantive consultant
post in a gastrointestinal specialty/have a CCST in gastrointestinal/are on the specialist register/hold an NTN in
gastroenterology. This form should be completed and returned direct to the BSG Secretariat, 3 St Andrews Place,
London NW1 4LB
Please read the enclosed guidelines for sponsorship before completing this form. The Nominations Committee relies
upon you for a realistic assessment of the candidate’s involvement and experience in gastroenterology.
Name of Candidate (capitals)
_______________________________________________________________________
Name and Address of Sponsor _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Experience and special interest of the candidate in gastroenterology, and evidence of continuing involvement in the
specialty.
Signed _________________________________________________________________
Date __________________________________________________________________
OR
I certify that the candidate holds a consultant post in a gastrointestinal specialty/has a CCST in a gastrointestinal
specialty/is on the specialist register/holds an NTN in gastroenterology and fulfils the criteria for membership of the
BSG.
Signed _________________________________________________________________
Date __________________________________________________________________