COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Honorary President
Francis W. Smith
MD. FRCR, FRCS, FRCP, FFSEM (UK)
Clinical Director at Medserena Upright MRI UK, Clinical Professor of Radiology at the University of Aberdeen, and Professor of Health & Sport Science at the Robert Gordon University
Professor Francis W. Smith is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen. After residencies in medicine and orthopaedics, he completed his radiological training at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto in Canada.
He pioneered the clinical application of MRI, starting the world's first clinical trial of MRI in 1980 and the world's first diagnostic MRI service at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 1981. Between 1980-91, Professor Smith published the first clinical applications of MRI for musculoskeletal radiology, abdominal and pelvic disease, as well as in pregnancy. He has over 250 publications, 32 book chapters and 5 textbooks.
In 1982, Professor Smith became President of the Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In 1990, he received the Gold medal from the International Society for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 1984-91, he became Editor in Chief of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In 1999, Prof Smith received the Barclay Medal from the British Institute of Radiology and in 2009 gave the Sir Godfrey Hounsfield Memorial lecture. He is currently Clinical Director of Medserena Upright MRI.
Professor Smith is also a qualified Sports Medicine Physician. Since 1996, he has been an examiner for the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (UK), and is currently the external examiner in Sports Medicine at the University of the West Indies.
Co-President
Andrew Shafik
Year 4 Medical Student at University of Aberdeen
I am a co-founder of ASEMS and hope to raise awareness of this increasingly recognised medical field. My passion for SEMS stems from uniting my love of sports and medicine. I enjoy a range of sports including football, rugby, tennis and running. I am a keen footballer playing for Aberdeen University Mens Football 1st XI where I was Vice Captain last season and curently sit on the committee as a committee advisor.
I have completed a placement shadowing a SEM consultant in their NHS work and in elite level football at Aston Villa FC. I also have a degree in BSc Sports & Exercise Science and hope to study MSc Sport & Exercise Medicine (SEM) with a future aspiration of specialising in SEM and becoming a football club doctor.
Co-President
Hilary Scott
Year 4 Applied Sport and Exercise Science Student at RGU
I am a co-founder of ASEMS and I am excited that this society will create a link between students from a range of health professions at both the University of Aberdeen and RGU. My interest in SEM began when I attended the Northern Undergraduate Sport and Exercise Medicine Conference in Newcastle in 2015. I have completed a placement at the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC) based at the University of Edinburgh where I worked with SEM professionals. I have loved sport from a very young age and particularly enjoy running, cycling and rowing and I am hoping to study MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine following completion of my course at RGU.
Vice President
Will Reid
Year 4 Medical Student at University of Aberdeen
I am a co-founder of ASEMS and I am excited at the prospect of this society allowing students, from both universities in the city, a chance to learn more about the SEM field. Sports have always been a passion of mine with football, golf and skiing being my favorite. My interest for SEM was ignited after I attended a conference at Arsenal “Marginal Gains in Sports Medicine” in which I listened to Thierry Henry and others talk about the ever-growing field. With a BSc in Sports & Exercise Science under my belt I am interested in the MSc Sports & Exercise Medicine (SEM) with a future aspiration of working in the SEM’s field.
Secretary
Theresa Toussaint
Year 4 Applied Sport and Exercise Science Student at RGU
Hi, I’m the secretary of the ASEMS committee and hope that we can increase awareness of and interest in SEM at both Universities in Aberdeen through this society. I am a 4th year Sport and Exercise Science student at RGU and became increasingly interested in SEM after a placement at a fitness centre in Germany that specialises on individual exercise prescription and rehabilitation of various injuries. Sport has always been a big part of my life and having tried numerous sports, I currently mainly cycle, run and go to the gym. I am hoping to complete the MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine subsequently to finishing my course at RGU and work in the SEM field in the future.
Publicity
Katarina Trumm
Year 3 Physiotherapy Student at RGU
I am responsible for the Publicity role of the ASEMS and I am looking forward to encouraging both the University of Aberdeen and RGU students to connect through different SEM subjects. I am currently studying physiotherapy at RGU and enjoy doing first aid work and shadowing qualified physiotherapists for rugby, football & basketball teams during my free time. I have grown up in a sports-oriented environment and been therefore involved with different sports throughout my life. I love going to the gym, running and playing football, but I am most proud of my current role as RGU Tennis ladies team captain.
Publicity
Michael Dodds
Year 3 Medical Student at the University of Aberdeen
I am responsible for publicity at ASEMS and hope to effectively spread the word about this exciting new society. I have always been into sports and reached high levels of competition in rugby and athletics. Unfortunately, several injuries since the age of 17 ended any further serious participation but a silver lining was the ignition of my passion for SEM that followed. This grew through work experience at Hampden Park and clarified this was a field I would love to work within. I am still heavily involved with sports on a more social level as a two year committee member for both Aberdeen Medics’ rugby and football clubs.
