Meet a Council Member: Sunil Shah

Tell us a bit about yourself? 
I am a Professor in Vision Sciences Aston University, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Medical Director Khmer Sight Foundation – a charity and a Director Midland Eye – private ambulatory care centre in Solihull. I was voted to be in the top 100 most influential in ophthalmology in the world

Why did you join the BCLA? 
As a corneal surgeon, I felt that I didn’t know enough about contact lenses and this was the best way to learn more about them.

What encouraged/inspired you to apply to be on BCLA Council?
Colleagues encouraged me to apply as they felt my background and experience would be useful to the BCLA.

Apart from the member benefits, what else do you get from the BCLA?
- Networking
- Education
- Friendship
- Industry links

What is it like being a member of the BCLA council? 
Sometimes hard work. As just a member, one doesn’t realise how much time and effort goes into everything that happens.  It's good to have insight of what is happening and why. 

What message would you like to give to members / non-members?
Non-members – why aren’t you a member? As a medic, some would consider I would have the least to gain from the BCLA but it is not the case at all
Members – get more involved: it is your organisation

What do you think will be the biggest change in contact lenses and the anterior eye over the next five years?               
Dry eye management. 

Biography 

Professor Sunil Shah qualified from St. Georges Hospital Medical School and completed his post-graduate training in Torquay, Exeter, Manchester and Nottingham. He has been a Consultant at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre since 2000 where he runs a cornea and cataract service.  Professor Shah is a Section Editor for the British Journal of Ophthalmology and a reviewer for Eye, American Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and Journal of Refractive Surgery. He is a Professor at Aston University and an honorary Professor at UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia. Professor Shah also provides specialist advice to NICE and is a representative for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists to the British Standards Institute. He is the Principle Editor and E Tutor for the E-learning course in Refractive surgery for the University of Ulster. He represents the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on its refractive sub-committee and its academic committee and he is a past President of the British Society for Refractive Surgery and is the current President for the British Contact Lens Association.