Meet your HaemSTAR committee
Chair
Dr Richard Buka, Birmingham
Rich is a haematology registrar and PhD student in the West Midlands. His principal research interest is in thromboinflammation including anticoagulant reversal and mechanisms of immune-complex mediated thrombotic disorders. He is passionate about promoting the work of up and coming scientists and clinicians and runs a podcast: Don’t Just Read the Guidelines. He also writes a regular blog, “The Classical Compass” on medicine, focusing on non-malignant haematology.
Contact: richard.buka@nhs.net | Twitter | Website | Podcast | Blog
President
Dr Pip Nicolson, Birmingham
Pip is an associate professor at the University of Birmingham with a lab research interest in platelet function and novel antiplatelet agents. He is also a consultant haematologist in haemostasis and thrombosis.
Contact: pnicolson@nhs.net | Twitter | Web Page
Treasurer & Vice-Chair
Dr Becks Shaw, Liverpool
Becks is a haematology registrar and senior clinical research fellow in Liverpool, and also fulfils the role of treasurer for HaemSTAR. She has completed a PhD looking at novel insights into the pathophysiology and long-term complications of TTP. She is keen to to provide opportunities for trainees to be involved in important research and national audits, as well as improving research opportunities for patients in the North-West.
Contact: r.shaw3@nhs.net | Twitter
Secretary
Dr Julia Wolf, Bristol
Julia is a haematology registrar in the South-West (Severn) and a Research Fellow in Therapeutic Apheresis at NHS Blood and Transplant, Bristol. Her main interests are in bleeding disorders, obstetric haematology and transfusion medicine. She is keen to promote classical haematology by developing research and education opportunities in collaboration with colleagues across the UK.
Contact: julia.wolf@doctors.org.uk
Website Officer
Dr Eman Hassan, Birmingham
Eman is a haematology registrar from the West Midlands. Her main clinical interests are in haemostasis and thrombosis. Eman has a paediatric training background and her aim is to promote engagement of paediatric and TYA networks to get involved in national projects with HaemSTAR.
Contact: eman.hassan@nhs.net | Twitter
Communications Lead
Dr Charlotte Hickman, Peterborough
Lottie is a current ST3 working at Peterborough City Hospital and rotating around EOE. She first became involved in HaemSTAR in FY2 where she was the junior lead for RAPIDO data collection at West Suffolk Hospital. She creates the newsletter, updates and has set up the new HaemSTAR instagram page. She is planning to expand HaemSTAR in a ‘junior’ direction and engage haematologists of the future.
Contact: charlotte.hickman4@nhs.net
Speciality Leads
Haemostasis & Thrombosis
Dr Christina Crossette-Thambiah, North London
Christina is a haematology registrar and academic research fellow in Haemostasis and Thrombosis at Imperial College London. Her research interests are primarily in bleeding disorders as well as acquired thrombotic disorders. She is part of of the societal engagement project ‘Invisible Warriors’ which visits local schools organise workshops for patients, friends and family to increase awareness of Sickle Cell disease.
Contact: c.crossette-thambiah@nhs.net
Haemostasis & Thrombosis (bleeding)
Dr Jayna Mistry, West Midlands
Jayna is a haematology registrar and clinical research fellow in the West Midlands. Her research interests include bleeding disorders.
Contact: jayna.mistry5@nhs.net
Obstetric Haematology
Dr Giulia Simini, North London
Giulia is a haematology registrar in North West London. Her background includes training in molecular biology and genomics and she is currently undertaking a PhD at University College London. She is passionate about promoting classical haematology research and education, with a particular interest in bleeding disorders.
Contact: giulia.simini@nhs.net | Twitter
Transfusion & Red Cell Disorders
Dr Lorna Cain, Birmingham/Oxford
Lorna is a Haematology Specialty Registrar from the West Midlands and Clinical Research Fellow with NHS Blood and Transplant, Oxford. Her research and clinical interests are in transfusion medicine, particularly in blood component development, patient safety and medical education. Lorna is keen to support transfusion-related projects within HaemSTAR and promote engagement of trainees with non-malignant haematology research.
Contact: lorna.cain@nhs.net
Red Cell Disorders
Ala is a Haematology Trainee Registrar based in the West Midlands. His professional interests include non-malignant haematology, red cell disorders, and haemoglobinopathies. Passionate about advancing his expertise in these areas, Ala is dedicated to providing exceptional care and contributing to the field of haematology.
Contact: Ala.Bawazir@nhs.net | Twitter
Global Health
Dr Stephen Hibbs, East London
Stephen is a haematology registrar based in East London and am currently doing a PhD at QMUL. His research is qualitative and aims to understand what constitutes good sickle cell crisis care in hospitals, and the avenues to achieve this. He is interested in several other themes that overlap with haematology practice: patient experiences, social science, global health, climate change, and health justice.
Contact: stephen.hibbs@nhs.net
Immuno-haematology
Olga Tsiamita, North East London
Olga is a trainee with a background in molecular pathology (MSc) and Translational Medicine (MRes). She completed a fellowship in medical education to develop online morphology resources for haematology trainees and continue this work via the Pathology Portal haematology sub-group. Her aim is to support trainee involvement in education, quality improvement and clinical research in non-malignant haematology with a special interest in immuno-haematology.
Contact: olga.tsiamita1@nhs.net
Women’s Health
Dr Laura Knox, Glasgow
Laura is a Haematology Registrar in the West of Scotland. She is passionate about the promotion of Womens Health, particularly in regards to heavy menstrual bleeding and menstrual health.
She is developing her research career and has research and clinical interests in Haemostasis and Bleeding Disorders.
Her aim is to improve engagement in national projects with HaemSTAR related to Women's health.
Contact: laura.knox2@nhs.scot | Twitter
Support Team
Administrator
Helen Apperley
Helen is our administrator dealing with all sorts of day-to-day organising and scheduling. She has a background in teaching, non-profits, and the arts.
Contact: haemstarnetwork@gmail.com