Gastroenterologist Dr Cameron Bell has been recognised for his contributions to the profession and to GESA with the Society’s 2017 Distinguished Service Award, presented at Australian Gastroenterology Week.
Assoc Prof Ian Norton & Dr Cameron Bell
Immediate past president of GESA Associate Professor Ian Norton told the limbic Dr Bell had played a pivotal role as national lead for the Train the Colonoscopist Trainer program and chair of GESA’s National Endoscopy Training Initiative.
“By improving endoscopic procedural standards for the current and next generation of colonoscopists, Cameron has provided a lasting and profound benefit to quality health care in Australia,” he said.
“We do know there’s a very good correlation between how good a colonoscopist is and how likely they are to miss significant lesions, particularly on the far side of the bowel. “
“So there is a very good reason we really want people to be the best colonoscopists they can be.”
Associate Professor Norton said the initial goals of the Train the Colonoscopist Trainer program were fairly modest – with the program targeted at the directors of endoscopy at every teaching hospital.
“That happened pretty quickly. An unintended consequence was that, although the aim is to teach you to be a better teacher, we did an early survey and found most people felt it helped their own colonoscopy practice.”
He also acknowledged Dr Bell’s longstanding clinical and teaching commitment to Royal North Shore Hospital and the University of Sydney, and other contributions to ‘fighting the good fight’ against bowel cancer.
Dr Bell has chaired the Surveillance Colonoscopy Guidelines Working Party, is a member of the clinical advisory group for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and was a founding director of Bowel Cancer Australia.
Bowel Cancer Australia CEO Julien Wiggins told the limbic Dr Bell had advocated tirelessly for the uptake of population screening in order to reduce the impact of bowel cancer.
“Cameron is well respected by colleagues and patients alike, giving his time and expertise to further the mission of Bowel Cancer Australia over the past 16 years, for which the charity is forever indebted,” said.
Bowel Cancer Australia was recently named ‘NGO of the Year’ at the 2017 PRIME Awards.
Adelaide colorectal surgeon Dr Andrew Luck was also awarded Honorary Life Membership of GESA for his role in promoting colonoscopy quality improvement.
“We needed the colorectal surgeons on board because they do half the colonoscopies in the country. Andrew enthusiastically embraced the importance of this and has been an important liaison between GESA and the colorectal surgeons,” Associate Professor Norton said.