Dr Julie Anne Forbes is Northern Ireland’s first Associate Dean for Specialty, Associate Specialist and Specialist (SAS) doctors, at Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, appointed in November 2023.

Julie Anne represents Northern Ireland SAS doctors on COPSAS, the SAS sub-committee of the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (UK). A SAS doctor herself for the last 20 years, she is currently Associate Specialist in Gynaecology and SAS Lead in Belfast HSC Trust.

Julie Anne is also Northern Ireland representative to, and co Vice-Chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists SAS and Locally Employed doctor committee. She sits on the RCOG Workforce Board, was a contributor to the RCOG Workforce report 2022, lead author of the RCOG “Inclusion of SAS and Locally Employed doctors” document and was a stakeholder in the Safe Staffing in Maternity Tool project. In November 2023 she was awarded the RCOG Distinguished Service Medal.

Julie Anne graduated from the University of Dundee MBChB with commendation having completed a BSc Hons First class in Microbiology and Microbial Genetics.

Ms Catherine Diver is the Deputy Associate Dean for Specialty, Associate Specialists and Specialist (SAS) doctors, at Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, appointed in October 2024.

Catherine graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2000. She started working as a specialty doctor in ENT at the Royal Free Hospital in London, moving back to Northern Ireland in 2006 to take up her current post as a specialty doctor in ENT at the Belfast HSC Trust.

Since 2022 she has been a Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh SAS and LED committee member and holds the role of an educational tutor for the college.

In 2024 Catherine joined the Intercollegiate Surgical Education Committee For SAS (ISECSN). Catherine's leadership roles in her Trust include Patient Safety and Clinical Governance lead and Quality Improvement (QI) lead in ENT. In relation to education, she is a member of the Belfast Trust's QI faculty which helps deliver the Specialist Trainees Engaged in Leadership Programme (STEP).

Nicola began her journey in dentistry after graduating with a BDS in 2000, driven by a deep-rooted commitment to patient care and a curiosity for surgical practice. This passion led to the completion of specialist training in oral surgery in 2009. Shortly after, in 2010, Nicola took on the role of Specialty Doctor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) within the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust—where she has proudly served ever since.

Nicola completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Medication from Queen’s University Belfast, followed by Level 3 Quality Improvement training through SCIL in 2019. These experiences helped shape her approach to service development, patient safety, and team collaboration.

Nicola was fortunate to participate in the Leadership Centre’s Aspire leadership course in 2021 and have since gone on to complete Level 5 ILM Coaching training. These programmes enhanced her ability to support and mentor colleagues, especially within the SAS workforce.

As a trained appraiser and SAS representative at medical directorate meetings she works hard to advocate for the needs, development opportunities, and recognition of our SAS doctors and dentists. She is committed to about ensuring our workforce feels supported, seen, and valued—and that each colleague has equitable access to career progression and leadership opportunities.

Her aim as SAS Lead for the South Eastern Trust, is to create a positive and inclusive environment where all voices are heard, and where kindness, fairness, and respect are the norm. The SAS community plays an integral role in delivering high-quality patient care, and she is committed to championing their contribution across our health service.

Dr Sarah Stirling has worked as a specialty doctor in haematology within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust since 2013.  Sarah graduated from Glasgow University in 2005 and completed foundation training in Scotland prior to returning home to Northern Ireland.  She entered training in palliative medicine before taking a SAS post.   Sarah took up her role of SAS lead for the Trust in 2020. 

As SAS lead she represents SAS doctors at Clinical Council and Local Negotiating Committee.  She has organised events in trust to promote SAS in leadership positions.   Sarah has a special interest in medical education and is an undergraduate educational supervisor as well as an honorary lecturer for Queen’s University Belfast.   She is currently working on achieving recognition to be a postgraduate educational supervisor.   Sarah is a trained appraiser. 

As SAS lead she wants to ensure SAS have equitable access to opportunities for career progression and encourage all SAS doctors to reach their full potential. 

Dr Stephanie Warne was appointed to the role of SAS lead in Western trust in July 2019. Within the trust she has worked hard to improve the recognition for SAS doctors, started a SAS forum and works with the medical director, HR and Med Ed West to represent SAS doctors.  She has also joined the other SAS leads and DOH over the past 4 years to collaboratively  design and deliver a regional training program for SAS doctors.

She graduated from University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff in 1995 and completed Basic surgical Training in South Wales before moving to London. She completed a Clinical Research doctorate at Great Ormond street and Guy’s hospitals London funded by Evelina Children’s foundation.  She completed higher surgical training in Paediatric surgery in Belfast and Edinburgh and is a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. After a post CCT fellowship in Paediatric urology she worked as a consultant in Oxford for several years before becoming SAS by choice to accommodate a family caring role.  She currently works with a multi-professional medical and surgical team to provide care for children with Complex needs in Western trust.

She is an elected member of BMA NI SAS doctors committee, BMA NI Council and The Royal College of Surgeons NI Council.

• Winner of SAS Clinical Achievement Award, 2024
• Specialty doctor since 2016 and working in Neurology department from 2018
• Subspecialty interest in headache
• Developed a service pathway for patients with chronic migraine to access monoclonal antibody therapy (advanced treatment option)
• Has been a guest speaker for ‘Migraine Ireland’ sharing her expertise in different aspects of management of chronic migraine
• Leads the Neurology Injection service for management of migraine, cluster headaches and cervical dystonia. Works autonomously and has trained other members of the team to inject including physiotherapists, physicians assistant and fellow SAS colleagues
• Developed a digital education resource for patients with migraine called “Headache friendly lifestyle”
• Morbidity and Mortality meeting coordinator
• Trust Appraiser, overseeing 8 appraisees through the appraisal/revalidation process every year
• Maintains a good interface with primary care via CCG advice request system and e-triage
• Recently started new role as SAS lead for SHSCT