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Citation for the 2015 BAOMS Surgery Prize: Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 54 (2016) 1063–1065
Citation for the 2015 BAOMS Surgery Prize: Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia
Bhavin Visavadia was born in the Great Rift Valley town of Nakuru, Kenya, on the 23rd February 1968. As you can see from the photograph, the young Bhavin did not have much going for him, and if he were to make anything of himself in life it would have to be by sheer endeavour and intellect. He was the youngest of 9 children, and being the son of a distinguished Gujarati tailor, little did his parents realise that Bhavin’s future career would also be dependent on a skillful sewing and cutting technique. In 1973 due to the political 0266-4356/$ – see front matter
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2016.10.010
1064 Citation for the 2015 BAOMS Surgery Prize: Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia / British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 54 (2016) 1063–1065
turmoil which erupted in Uganda, Bhavin’s parents decided that a safer and more prosperous future for the family lay outside Kenya, so the family emigrated to the UK, first to Nottingham and finally to north London. Bhavin attended Alexandra Park and Fortismere Schools in Bounds Green, and finally Tottenham College. After academic success in O and A levels, Bhavin decided to go where Black Cabs refuse to venture, and headed south of the river Thames to King’s College Dental School, entering in 1986. King’s was to feature heavily in Bhavin’s professional development, returning there on at least 3 other occasions. On completion of BDS, Bhavin entered the world of general practice in Chelmsford as a Vocational Trainee, followed by a House Officer post at Birmingham Dental Hospital, and on to Luton and Dunstable Hospital as SHO in 1992, before returning to King’s, as SHO to John Langdon and Geoff Forman, in 1993. During his tenure of this post he passed the FDSRCS examination, and whilst awaiting entry to Medical School, Bhavin held the post of Registrar at the Central Middlesex Hospital. In 1994 He entered Kings for the third occasion and graduated in medicine in 1998, there followed an extremely busy period in Bhavin’s life. Not only did he complete Basic Surgical Training and obtain the FRCS (CSiG), but it was in the romantic ambience created by the bed pans and flatus tubes of the colorectal ward at Kings that he fell in love with his fellow houseman, Dr Medona Fernando. They married in 2001. That same year, he was successful in obtaining a Specialist Registrar post on the King’s/East Grinstead/Guildford rotation. He speaks fondly of his consultant trainers namely Messrs Langdon, Lavery, Brown, Johnson, Bentley and Danford, who turned him into the Surgeon that he now is. After obtaining the FRCS (OMFS) in 2005 Bhavin was awarded a BAHNO travelling scholarship to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital in Sri Lanka. It was good fortune that in 2006 that Maxillofacial Surgery in North West London was in a state of flux, such that Graham Bounds and I were looking to appoint 2 Consultant Surgeons to the patch. Bhavin and his training colleague Manolis Heliotis were appointed and things were never quite the same. It is no coincidence that since 2006 the Maxillofacial unit
at the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust has more than doubled in size to become a truly regional unit, incorporating Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Hillingdon, West Middlesex, Ealing, and the West Herts Hospitals. It also services the tertiary trauma centre at St Mary’s Hospital. With a company of 10 consultants, it has gained a reputation for surgical training and excellence with trainees. In the past 10 years, Bhavin has had over 50 papers, posters and verbal presentations in peer reviewed journals, and at national and international meetings to his name which is indicative of his prowess as a surgical innovator. Since 2006, Apart from being a busy clinician, Bhavin has taken an interest in extended aspects of Consultant Practice, including the following roles: Clinical Lead in OMFS, Educational supervisor for London North OMFS Trainees, Clinical Director OMFS, ENT, Head and Neck, Orthodontics, Ophthalmology and Breast Surgery, Overseas External Examiner for the MS (OMFS) examination in Sri Lanka, Founding Council member and Honorary Secretary of Royal Society of Medicine OMFS section, and from 2013 − 2015 he was President, organising study days for trainees and attracting speakers with International reputations. In our own specialist association, he has been a member of BAOMS Clinical Effectiveness Sub Committee, Regional Specialty Professional Advisor in OMFS appointed jointly by BAOMS and RCS Eng, and this year, he has been appointed to BAOMS council as deputy Chair of the Consultants and Specialist Group. That’s enough of Bhavin Visavadia as a surgeon, what about Bhavin the man? The ladies among us will no doubt say that Bhavin could not have achieved so much without the backing of a good lady. Well Bhavin has three ladies in his life. He has a delightful wife, Medona, who also happens to be a mother and busy GP principal in an NHS practice, and 2 intelligent young daughters Ellani aged 13 yrs. and Aanya aged 10 yrs, who fortunately, inherited their looks from Medona rather than Bhavin. As befits a reconstructive surgeon one of his current projects is restoring a 15th Century cottage in Devon. As a sportsman, Bhavin puts in the same commitment to being a winner be it turning out for the Chalfont St Peter’s second XI or when golfing, trying to win a pint of beer from his colleagues!!!!
Citation for the 2015 BAOMS Surgery Prize: Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia / British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 54 (2016) 1063–1065 1065
In summary, Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia has achieved a great deal in transforming the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust Maxillofacial Department into the high profile Unit, with the reputation which it enjoys today. As a friend and colleague, surgeon, surgical innovator, trainer, educator
and medical manager you have promoted the specialty of OMFS to its fullest. It is a pleasure to provide this citation for The BAOMS Surgery Prize for 2016 which you richly deserve. M. Gilhooly
ScienceDirect British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 54 (2016) 1063–1065
Citation for the 2015 BAOMS Surgery Prize: Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia
Bhavin Visavadia was born in the Great Rift Valley town of Nakuru, Kenya, on the 23rd February 1968. As you can see from the photograph, the young Bhavin did not have much going for him, and if he were to make anything of himself in life it would have to be by sheer endeavour and intellect. He was the youngest of 9 children, and being the son of a distinguished Gujarati tailor, little did his parents realise that Bhavin’s future career would also be dependent on a skillful sewing and cutting technique. In 1973 due to the political 0266-4356/$ – see front matter
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2016.10.010
1064 Citation for the 2015 BAOMS Surgery Prize: Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia / British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 54 (2016) 1063–1065
turmoil which erupted in Uganda, Bhavin’s parents decided that a safer and more prosperous future for the family lay outside Kenya, so the family emigrated to the UK, first to Nottingham and finally to north London. Bhavin attended Alexandra Park and Fortismere Schools in Bounds Green, and finally Tottenham College. After academic success in O and A levels, Bhavin decided to go where Black Cabs refuse to venture, and headed south of the river Thames to King’s College Dental School, entering in 1986. King’s was to feature heavily in Bhavin’s professional development, returning there on at least 3 other occasions. On completion of BDS, Bhavin entered the world of general practice in Chelmsford as a Vocational Trainee, followed by a House Officer post at Birmingham Dental Hospital, and on to Luton and Dunstable Hospital as SHO in 1992, before returning to King’s, as SHO to John Langdon and Geoff Forman, in 1993. During his tenure of this post he passed the FDSRCS examination, and whilst awaiting entry to Medical School, Bhavin held the post of Registrar at the Central Middlesex Hospital. In 1994 He entered Kings for the third occasion and graduated in medicine in 1998, there followed an extremely busy period in Bhavin’s life. Not only did he complete Basic Surgical Training and obtain the FRCS (CSiG), but it was in the romantic ambience created by the bed pans and flatus tubes of the colorectal ward at Kings that he fell in love with his fellow houseman, Dr Medona Fernando. They married in 2001. That same year, he was successful in obtaining a Specialist Registrar post on the King’s/East Grinstead/Guildford rotation. He speaks fondly of his consultant trainers namely Messrs Langdon, Lavery, Brown, Johnson, Bentley and Danford, who turned him into the Surgeon that he now is. After obtaining the FRCS (OMFS) in 2005 Bhavin was awarded a BAHNO travelling scholarship to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital in Sri Lanka. It was good fortune that in 2006 that Maxillofacial Surgery in North West London was in a state of flux, such that Graham Bounds and I were looking to appoint 2 Consultant Surgeons to the patch. Bhavin and his training colleague Manolis Heliotis were appointed and things were never quite the same. It is no coincidence that since 2006 the Maxillofacial unit
at the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust has more than doubled in size to become a truly regional unit, incorporating Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Hillingdon, West Middlesex, Ealing, and the West Herts Hospitals. It also services the tertiary trauma centre at St Mary’s Hospital. With a company of 10 consultants, it has gained a reputation for surgical training and excellence with trainees. In the past 10 years, Bhavin has had over 50 papers, posters and verbal presentations in peer reviewed journals, and at national and international meetings to his name which is indicative of his prowess as a surgical innovator. Since 2006, Apart from being a busy clinician, Bhavin has taken an interest in extended aspects of Consultant Practice, including the following roles: Clinical Lead in OMFS, Educational supervisor for London North OMFS Trainees, Clinical Director OMFS, ENT, Head and Neck, Orthodontics, Ophthalmology and Breast Surgery, Overseas External Examiner for the MS (OMFS) examination in Sri Lanka, Founding Council member and Honorary Secretary of Royal Society of Medicine OMFS section, and from 2013 − 2015 he was President, organising study days for trainees and attracting speakers with International reputations. In our own specialist association, he has been a member of BAOMS Clinical Effectiveness Sub Committee, Regional Specialty Professional Advisor in OMFS appointed jointly by BAOMS and RCS Eng, and this year, he has been appointed to BAOMS council as deputy Chair of the Consultants and Specialist Group. That’s enough of Bhavin Visavadia as a surgeon, what about Bhavin the man? The ladies among us will no doubt say that Bhavin could not have achieved so much without the backing of a good lady. Well Bhavin has three ladies in his life. He has a delightful wife, Medona, who also happens to be a mother and busy GP principal in an NHS practice, and 2 intelligent young daughters Ellani aged 13 yrs. and Aanya aged 10 yrs, who fortunately, inherited their looks from Medona rather than Bhavin. As befits a reconstructive surgeon one of his current projects is restoring a 15th Century cottage in Devon. As a sportsman, Bhavin puts in the same commitment to being a winner be it turning out for the Chalfont St Peter’s second XI or when golfing, trying to win a pint of beer from his colleagues!!!!
Citation for the 2015 BAOMS Surgery Prize: Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia / British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 54 (2016) 1063–1065 1065
In summary, Bhavin Gordhan Visavadia has achieved a great deal in transforming the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust Maxillofacial Department into the high profile Unit, with the reputation which it enjoys today. As a friend and colleague, surgeon, surgical innovator, trainer, educator
and medical manager you have promoted the specialty of OMFS to its fullest. It is a pleasure to provide this citation for The BAOMS Surgery Prize for 2016 which you richly deserve. M. Gilhooly