30th Anniversary Stories

We are pleased to share with you a variety of member testimonials in celebration of our milestone 30th Anniversary year! 

Dr Asha Kasliwal reflects on an incredible journey as FSRH president 2016-2022

“I hope my legacy will be the raising of the profile of SRH and FSRH becoming the ‘go to’ organisation for SRH matters.”

“It has been such a privilege to be the President of FSRH for not one but two terms! I was so excited to be elected and assumed the President’s role of Chair of Council. I looked forward to the weekly travel to London, working closely with the Officers and CEO and with other medical royal colleges - particularly the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Department of Health.

What I experienced was so different, so profound, and so rewarding!

I led the FSRH through enormous change: strengthening our governance structure by appointing a board of trustees, the untimely loss of a CEO, appointing interim CEOs and then our current CEO, Gary Waltham, as well as supporting our members through the pandemic with guidance, webinars and a totally new way of working.

My highlights include close working with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Chair, the RCOG President, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoRMC), the weekly meetings with the CMO during the pandemic and last but not the least: two-day hospital safety visits with Mr Jeremy Hunt when he was Secretary of State.

And now: catching my breath? Maybe, but new challenges beckon.”

Name: Professor Mark Rickenbach
Membership type: Diplomate  
Years of membership: 30
Qualifications: DFFP (IUCD) 1989 onward

“FRSH has kept me up to date with the latest guidelines and encouraged me to attend courses and share experiences.”

“My mother was a family planning nurse for a while, and I can recall her talking to a local church group of teenagers in the back room of our house. I think she was wearing her white coat as it was then 45yrs ago. I don't think I was too embarrassed as I must have set up the meeting! It inspired me to be a GP and provide family planning.

As one of the first Diplomates when the FRSH started 30 yrs ago, I’m proud to continue to offer intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) clinics at my GP partnership with many positive patients who continue on the IUCD.”

Name: Kate Ellerby
Membership type: Nurse Diplomate
Years of membership: 9
Qualifications: Letter of Competence (SDI and IUT), DFSRH

“Playing my small part to bring best practice to the women in my small corner of the world has been the focus of my nursing career, and for that I feel hugely privileged.”

“After a lot of soul searching after working predominantly in women’s health for 36 years, I have decided that now is the time to step down from this role as the lone worker in SRH at my practice in Primary Care. I am enormously grateful to the Faculty for all the support over the years and enabling me to become the practitioner I am today. I have benefited hugely from all the education provided by the Faculty and for the guidance to inform my practice. The support during the pandemic was also absolutely invaluable. I will be very sad to hang up my uterine sound and accompaniments for the last time and miss working with all the wonderful women with whom I have been so fortunate to have been able to provide a service for. However, equally I acknowledge that the time is now right to go.”

Name: Dr Kimberley Forbes
Membership type: Diplomate  
Years of membership: 18
Qualifications: DFSRH, LoC IUT, LoC SDI-IR, PGA Med Ed, working towards SSM in USS

“From east, outer, to west London via prison health, SRH has been a constant in my career be it training, delivery or service redesign."

“My current role as Service Director for Contraception has allowed me to implement user-focussed digital solutions to improve access, for example remote self-medical triage and booking for LARC.

It has also allowed me to work with gynaecology and radiology colleagues to develop collaborative clinical models that put the individual at the heart of care, such as one stop shop SRH USS and gynaecology clinics for those with gynaecological or LARC problems.

Last year I became our Training Programme Director (TPD). I really enjoy developing and supporting a community of trainers and acting as a trainer and mentor to the next generation of FSRH and LoC trainees. Coming full circle, I remember fondly my first trainers Prof Anne McGregor and Jill Zelin and the lasting impact they had on me. Now too I follow that same path.”

Name: Baroness Dr Jenny Tonge
Membership type: Retired member
Years of membership: 30
Qualifications: Hon. Fellowship

“My biggest achievement was promoting reproductive health and family planning, in particular in developing countries.”

“I was elected as MP for Richmond Park and made Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. This gave me the opportunity to promote our specialty and persuade ministers in developing countries to introduce voluntary Family Planning, by illustrating that it also improved the economy of their countries! I continued this work when I went into the House of Lords in 2005.

I was President of the European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (based in Brussels). I am now retired but have written a memoir including my adventures in developing countries promoting Family Planning (available on Amazon!) all thanks to specialising in Family Planning and SRH and being encouraged by the formation of FSRH.”

Name: Dr Mary Ann Burrow
Membership type: Diplomate  
Years of membership: 30
Qualifications: DFSRH

“I believe that [being an FSRH member] has given me an extra dimension to all the educational aspects of my training and work with patients.”

“I have been a member for 30 years - re-certifying every five years to keep my training up-to-date.

My greatest achievement since becoming a member - I have become involved in tutoring Medical Students. I have also become a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

Prior to this, I was a member of the Scottish Family Planning Medical Society from the early eighties for some time. Others who remember this will know that it no longer exists. It used to meet twice-yearly in different venues throughout Scotland. This was a chance to hear about the latest research and guidelines and meet other doctors who were practising in the field of sexual health.

I believe that [being an FSRH member] has given me an extra dimension to all the educational aspects of my training and work with patients.”

Name: Toni Belfield
Membership type: Associate Member - 1993 / Honorary Fellow 2005
Years of membership: 30
Qualifications: DFSRH

“To work in partnership with SRH healthcare professionals has been a privilege.”

“As a specialist in sexual and reproductive health information, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of women over the years. This has enabled me to provide patient and public perspectives into FSRH work to ensure that the patient/consumer voice is included in all its work and outcomes.

As a non-clinician I have worked in the field of sexual and reproductive health for over 40 years. I have worked with women, health professionals, organisations, and policy makers to ensure the patient/consumer voice, concerns and needs are heard and incorporated into patient information, clinical guidance and standards, policy direction, service delivery and care. In the 30 years I have worked with the Faculty, it has developed to become the leading organisation in sexual and reproductive health and has, importantly, recognised that collaboration of professional specialties and partnership working ensure that SRH is not just about biology and clinical diagnosis but it is about people with all the issues they bring with them.”