University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) registrar Andrew Beggs has been named as the first ever Young Coloproctologist of the Year.

He will become the face of the Association of Coloproctologists of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) until July 2017, acting as an ambassador for the profession at various events and promoting awareness and research.

Competition for the prestigious new role from all over the country was whittled down to just three finalists who were interviewed by a panel of judges in London in April 2016 before Andrew was chosen.

In naming him as the first holder of the title, the panel were impressed by his “outstanding contributions to education, research and leadership in the field of coloproctology but most especially for his willingness to lead by example and his enthusiasm in engaging with the profession.”

A delighted Andrew, said: “I feel very honoured to be the first holder of this post. It is very humbling to know that among my peer group I am regarded as one of the best – and a bit scary to be given such responsibility.

“The whole point of the award is to become the face of coloproctology, to highlight what we are doing in bowel research and to be an ambassador for colorectal surgery in the UK.”

As well as being a colorectal registrar at UHB, working his way towards consultant status, Andrew is heavily involved in bowel cancer research at the neighbouring University of Birmingham – running his own research lab.

“I think one of the reasons they chose me is that we have been doing a lot of bowel cancer research here in Birmingham, having won some big research grants over the last couple of years,” he added.

“We have highlighted the fact that surgeons can do research when the perception has perhaps been, in the past, that they are too busy with their surgery.

“We are fortunate here in Birmingham to be able to undertake the research work that we do because of the close relationship between the Trust and the University.

“That is one of the things that attracted me to the city to continue my training and, as well as being a personal honour, I see this award as recognition of the fact that Birmingham is a centre of excellence in this field.”

Andrew will receive his award and officially start in his new role at the ACPGBI annual meeting in Edinburgh from 4-6 July 2016.