Prof Neeraj Bhala is a Professor of Gastroenterology and Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Melbourne Medical School, as well as a Consultant Physician & Gastroenterologist at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

What attracted you to a career in gastroenterology/hepatology?

Variety is the spice of the life! As well as all the different jobs we get to do to help people most gastroenterologists are nice and fun.  I’ve met quite a few since attending the bsg meeting in 2000 as a medical student and doing Gastro as my house job in 2002, it’s all about the people you get to work with and meet.

What advancement in gastroenterology/hepatology are you most excited about and why?

I’m most excited about the global developments that help the system get the right patient in the right place at the right time.  Gastroenterology has given me a great career so far including training in population health research and clinical leadership, allowing me to take up a wonderful opportunity as a Professor of Gastroenterology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Hopefully I can help make an impact on digestive disease outcomes and help the next generation deliver the best in care and research. 

What do you enjoy most about your work?

The most rewarding part of my work is building long-term relationships with patients, especially those with chronic conditions like IBD or liver cirrhosis. It’s an unique humbling privilege being a physician and clinical leader helping look after patients and services to deliver the best care.

What is the one thing you would change?

If I could change one thing, it would be the increasing admin burden that takes time away from patient care and clinical thinking to help sort patients out in real time, research and teaching. It would also hopefully help gastroenterologists and others realise what a great job they do - sometimes we and the system are not as good at appreciating the good things we are doing,

What’s the best advice you’ve been given in your career?

“Stay curious and stay kind.” Medicine moves and evolves rapidly, and the best clinicians are those who never stop learning and are curious about medicine and others. Equally, kindness — to patients, colleagues, and oneself — is essential for a sustainable and fulfilling career.

What does being a BSG member mean to you?

Being a BSG member has connected me to a community of passionate, forward-thinking professionals dedicated to improving digestive health. By getting involved it has offered a platform for sharing research, mentoring, and advocating for better patient care in the UK and internationally. BSG’s commitment to education and innovation has helped me grow as a clinician and contribute to the advancement of our field and allowed me to pay it forward: I don’t feel that different from being a medical student 25 years ago so great to see the next generation of gastroenterologists make an impact.