Chairman: Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad M.B.B.S., D.P.M., L.L.M. (Mental Health Law)
I am an Associate Specialist in Old Age Psychiatry, working with Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust. Since I took up my post firstly as a Senior Clinical Medical Officer seven years ago, I have been actively involved in helping the cause of our grade. I have worked on the principle of inclusion and striven hard to achieve this. I served as an elected Vice-Chairman and then as Chairman of the local peer group for a period of three years. During this time, the group was officially recognized as the sole voice of middle grade psychiatrists working in the then Northern Birmingham Mental Health Trust and now Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust. Secondly, after being re-graded as an Associate Specialist, in the last two years, I, in collaboration with Dr Gonzalez successfully held two first ever national conferences for Staff & Associate Specialist Psychiatrists. At the meeting held in July 2003 at Crown Plaza Hotel Birmingham NEC, I was elected as the first National Chair of SASPA UK.

Over the years, I have also been a keen organiser of specifically tailored CPD events for our grade of Psychiatrists. I was elected as Regional CPD Representative RCPsych in May 2002 and since then I have also been given the opportunity to further strengthen our links with the Royal College of Psychiatrists as an elected Affiliate Representative on Council RCPsych. I am a passionate believer of the concept of competency based assessment for the purpose of inclusion in the specialist register and hopefully this bond with the College will help me to highlight this concept even further.

With the formation of SASPA it is hoped that we can unite together on a solid base nationally so that statutory organisations and Mental Health Trusts nationwide recognize us as a formidable force.


Vice Chairman: Dr Domingo Gonzalez Naranjo
I was born in Canary Island (Spain) and I received my degree in Medicine from Valencia University. Following my training as a General Practitioner I moved to the UK in 1995 completing my postgraduate training in the All Birmingham Rotational Scheme in Psychiatry. Later I became a Senior Clinical Medical Officer in Community Psychiatry in the year 2000. My current Job involves working with Home Treatment and Assertive Outreach at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust East Locality.

I have been heavily involved in developing the SAS group in Birmingham from the onset and I have had the honour of being Chairman of our SAS Peer Group since July 2002. Furthermore I was elected Vice-Chairman of SASPA in July 2003.
During the last 2 years I have worked closely with Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad in the SASPA project, as I passionately believe that the Staff and Associate Specialist working in Psychiatry needs a single voice to help to defend our interest within the national health system.

Treasurer: Dr Ayeaye Yee, Treasurer
I am a medical graduate from Institute of medicine 1 (Rangoon) in 1981 and had practiced as a GP in Burma from 1982-1987 after which I left for Malaysia.
From 1989-1994, I had worked as senior medical officer at the University Sains Malaysia (University Hospital), in Kota Baru, Malaysia in Casualty, Paediatrics, community medicine and psychiatrist. I had 3 yrs experience in psychiatry in Malaysia and came to UK in 1994, under the sponsorship of Royal College of Psychiatrists.

I have been a psychiatrist since 1991 and have 12 yrs experience in the field of psychiatry, out of which the past 5 yrs has been in child psychiatry.
I have an MSc degree from Imperial College in clinical psychiatry and research and a Diploma from the University College London.
I am currently working as a staff grade in child psychiatry at the children and family center at Loxford hall, Ilford, Essex.

General Secretary: Dr Mubashra Kharaishi