Executive Chair
Dermoscopy team member
Julian qualified from Sheffield University in 1990 and, despite the presence of excellent transport links to other parts of the country, has worked in South Yorkshire ever since. He was fortunate to do a ‘house-job’ that included a significant amount of dermatology and has been drawn to the subject ever since. In 1994 he became a partner in a practice in Stocksbridge, to the north of Sheffield, where he worked until September 2023 as the ‘voice of dermatology’ in the practice. Those 30 years as a GP partner where supplemented by external dermatology roles and, in his time he has been a clinical assistant, a GPwSI, a GPwER, and, more recently, a speciality Doctor at Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust, where he has worked since 1998.
Julian joined the PCDS in 1998, and joined the Executive committee in 2004. He served as the Chief Finance Officer until 2023 and later the same year took over as Executive Chair.
In common with the aims of the society, Julian has an interest in dermatology education and has spoken on a variety of topics around the United Kingdom and Ireland. He is particularly interested in skin cancer and its prevention and would encourage more people to think about wearing a hat.
Julian is married, with two daughters, and curates a growing domestic menagerie. He enjoys cooking and searching out obscure progressive rock bands, attempting to see as many of them live as he can. He would love to spend more time in Italy but would then find it even harder to go and see Leeds United than he does at the moment.
Vice Chair
Educational Subcommittee Lead
Naomi has been GPwER in Dermatology for 20 years and a GP in South East London since before the inception of the PCDS. She established the Southwark Community Dermatology Service and its later iterations with local colleagues, encouraging the development of similar services across SE London, She believes that dermatology is endlessly interesting and that upskilled members of the Primary Care Team can moderate the life changing impact of skin problems on patients’ lives. Her passion is for colleagues to diagnose and manage skin conditions confidently and effectively so that their patients can do so too.
Naomi joined the PCDS executive in 2019. As a member of the education team she had focused on the Essential Dermatology Series 1 & 2, ensuring that the images reflect skin presentations across the breadth of skin types, and on developing GPwER roles nationally. She recently completed 3 years as Co-Chair of the National GPwER Accreditation service.
She has been a Dermatology lecturer for primary care practitioners from 2005, initially for the University of Wales Diploma of Practical Dermatology and subsequently for the PCDS and as a GPwER in SELondon.
As a member of SE London Area Prescribing Committee Dermatology Pathways groups she ensures that the primary care perspective influences local CCG/ secondary care formularies and Dermatology guidelines.
Away from work she might be found on a tennis court, chatting around a meal, spending time with family or combining skiing with Dermatology at DrsUpdate.
Website lead
Dermoscopy team member
GPwER deputy
Tim qualified from Newcastle University Medical School. Tim is employed by South Tees NHS Foundation Trust as the skin cancer lead for the department of Dermatology. Tim also works in the community as a GPwER in Dermatology & Skin Lesion management, in addition to continuing to work in General Practice.
Tim enjoys the educational aspects of his work both at a local and national level, and is the lead author of the PCDS website. Tim helped develop the National Accreditation program for Dermatology GPwERs. He also has spent a significant amount of time working with various Department of Health and NICE working groups across different areas of dermatology.
Outside of work Tim enjoys the great outdoors and loves travel, skiing, wildlife photography, conservation, and supporting Leeds United. Tim has his own website www.aworldonthebrink.com that combines his work (including a dermoscopy blog), travel blogs and conservation.
Chief Finance Officer
I joined the PCDS executive Committee in 2013 after having been a member for many years. From 2018-2021 I held the Executive Chair role.
My interest in dermatology goes back to medical school training. Having graduated in Germany I was fortunate enough to have a full semester of lectures and practical sessions during my training and a three month posting in the dermatology department during my final year. I completed my postgraduate qualification as a GP in the UK, became a GP partner and trainer in South East London. After successful completion of the Cardiff Diploma in 2009 I got more actively involved in the pathway redesign work for our local CCG of which I then became a clinical director. I am furthermore working in a local teaching hospital, Kings College Hospital, supporting the 2ww clinic alongside a consultant. Of more recent, I have set up our local community dermatology service with the help of our federation.
I have lectured on behalf of the PCDS for Essential Dermatology as well as locally for GP's and GP registrars on our VTS and nationally for various stakeholders. This is where I see our main role: continuing to provide education working together with our colleagues from the BAD and the RCGP whilst not keeping our eye off national developments and ensuring the voice of Primary and Community Care is heard.
Outside my dermatology remit, I am married with two children; enjoy travelling including skiing trips and exercise regularly to keep up with the pace of life. I love reading and making the most of living in London with its cultural and culinary diversity.
Surgical Lead
Educational Subcommittee
Dr Christy Chou qualified in 1985 at Dundee University.
He completed the Cleveland Vocational training scheme in General Practice in 1989 and was a full time GP Principle until 1994.
Christy started his training in Plastic Surgery in 1994 at Shotley Bridge Hospital and has been a Hospital practitioner in Plastic Surgery (part time) since January 1996.
In 2001 he initiated the Minor Surgery Service for Darlington PCT and Dales PCT. He currently works as the Primary Care Surgeon for the two organisations.
Christy performs 2,000 cases of skin surgery per year; approximately 50% of these are skin cancer, which is one of his main interests. One of his other interests is teaching GP’s and SHO’s in Plastic Surgery to improve their surgical skills. He runs a basic core skill programme for plastic surgery in Durham and a flap course at Newcastle University.
Christy has been a committee member of the Primary Care Dermatology Society since September 2006 and runs surgical teaching courses for the society.
Dermoscopy lead
DfD co-author
I trained at Cambridge University, graduating in 1996, and chose the Oxford VTS because at the time it was one of the few in the country to offer dermatology as a part of the rotation. I am now a GP partner in Cheltenham, and have a very heavily dermatology based list. I do an in-house skin clinic once a week, and often have clinical learners sitting in with me.
I achieved the top mark in the Cardiff diploma in practical dermatology in 2010, and never really left after that, becoming first an examiner then forum moderator, then ad hoc online lecturer for the DPD. I am also a tutor for the Cardiff introduction to dermoscopy course.
I am passionate about teaching dermatology, and passing on the enthusiasm I have for the subject.
I have 2 grown up children, and in my occasional spare time, I make greetings cards and crochet jewellery.
Skin Cancer lead
Dermoscopy Forum lead
Dermoscopy team
I graduated from the University of Southampton in 2002 and became a GP in 2012 after several Surgical posts. With this background, I performed minor surgery, but soon realized I wanted to have a better idea of what I was ‘cutting out’. This lead to learning about skin lesions and Dermatoscopy. This then lead to learning about all-things Dermatology, followed by gaining the Glasgow Diploma In Dermatology, and now I work as both a community- and hospital-based GPwSI as well as being a GP partner and trainer.
I first started attending PCDS meetings as a GP registrar and have not stopped since; it is an honour and privilege to be a committee member working with the aim to enhance Dermatology knowledge in Primary Care and pass on all the knowledge and experience that I have accrued and continue to accrue.
Bulletin Co-editor
Essential Dermatology team member
After completing GP training in 1992, including 6 months in New Zealand, Lorna took up a post in hospital dermatology in the west of Scotland planning to stay for 6 months and ended up staying for 5 years. This provided an excellent grounding in dermatology and sparked her enthusiasm which continues today. She gained the Glasgow Diploma in Dermatology in 2005, GPwER accreditation in 2019 and is a GPwER portfolio assessor.
Lorna has combined general practice and hospital dermatology for over 30 years, until stepping away from primary care in 2024 to focus on dermatology and life outside of medicine. In addition to general dermatology clinics in secondary care, she also works in a monthly vulval clinic which has become one of the most rewarding areas of her clinical practice. Lorna is passionate about teaching dermatology to primary care clinicians to improve patient care and also because it’s such a brilliant subject.
Lorna’s outside interests include exploring the arts, improving her rusty Italian, and having offloaded dependent children has now acquired a dependent dog she walks on the Ayrshire coast where she lives.
Primary Care Health Professional team leader
Educational Subcommittee
Essential Dermatology team member
Julie trained as an RGN at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. She worked in variety of clinical areas in London and Australia before settling back in her home town, Oxford. In 1991, where she started working in dermatology, as a Ward Sister, and then a Clinical Nurse Specialist, developing a unique Dermatology Liaison Nurse role, which was the start of her interest and love for primary care dermatology. She then worked in the Pharma industry, in a dermatology medical education role, while continuing NHS clinical primary care dermatology work in Bicester for Oxfordshire CCG. In 2008, Julie set up her own company - Dermatology Education Partnership Ltd and become an independent lecturer practitioner, providing dermatology training for primary care working with various organisations. She was appointed as a module leader by the University of Stirling in 2017, and developed a master’s module in dermatology on the Advancing Practice programme. She contributes the many national dermatology initiatives, including the recent RCGP Spotlight and Psoriasis Priorities Partnership project; she is the past editor of Dermatological Nursing, the BDNG journal, and writes extensively for many nursing and health care journals. Julie works as an adviser for skin care charities, and works for The National Eczema Society, one afternoon a week, mainly on the helpline. Her current clinical work is with SDSmyhealthcare, a Birmingham-based GP Federation, working twice a month in a primary-care based dermatology service with three GPwERs. Julie is passionate about improving dermatology care and support for people with skin conditions through educational initiatives for both healthcare professionals and patients. She is delighted to be joining the PCDS committee, as nurse member. Julie is married with one daughter, she enjoys tennis, open-water swimming, and learning to play the piano. She will often be found on a river bank supporting Newcastle University Boat Club.
GPwER lead
Bulletin co-editor
Essential Dermatology team member
Syreeta is from London and graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ (GKT) School of Medicine at King’s College London in 2007. She went on to pursue a career as a GP and later developed an interest in dermatology, completing a diploma (2014) and a master’s degree (2018) in Practical Dermatology from Cardiff University, earning distinctions in both qualifications.
Syreeta has a portfolio career and divides her time between being a partner at a private clinic in London and working in community dermatology services as a GPwER in medical dermatology and skin surgery. She has worked as a GPwER in London and Kent since 2014.
Syreeta joined the PCDS executive committee in 2021. She is passionate about dermatology education and is an active member of the education team. She has been involved in rewriting and updating the Essential Dermatology Series 1 & 2 and is also one of the Bulletin co-editors. Syreeta enjoys all aspects of dermatology, with a specific interest in skin of colour, hair disorders, and cosmetic dermatology.
Syreeta has been a Dermatology lecturer for primary care practitioners since 2015, initially for local VTS, GPs, and GPwERs in London, and subsequently on behalf of the PCDS for Essential Dermatology, as well as nationally and internationally for various stakeholders. She is also a tutor on the Cardiff University Diploma in Dermatology and an assessor on the National GPwER Accreditation service.
Syreeta is married with two children and enjoys travelling and gardening. She has a large allotment with a 20ft polytunnel and relishes growing her own fruit and vegetables. She also keeps backyard chickens. Syreeta loves travelling to different places and experiencing the diversity of cultures and the scenic beauty of each location.
Pharmacy lead
PCP team member
DfD co-author
BSc (Hons) Pharmacy, MBCHB, Dip Prac Derm, MSc Healthcare Management
Dermatology GPSI for the Liverpool ICATS, Liverpool University FT
Clinical Educator for Pharmacists in Dermatology (Pharmaceutical Society/BAD)
Primary Care Lead, National Teledermatology Roadmap Update, NHSE ORT
Primary Care/PCDS Representative, BAD National Teledermatology WPG
External Examiner for Dermatology, University of Buckingham
GP in South Liverpool
A highly experienced GP, Stephanie has worked as a GPwSI in Dermatology in an integrated clinical assessment and treatment service across Liverpool for 20 years. She is accredited to practice as a dermatology specialist GP by Liverpool University Foundation Trust Hospitals. She originally qualified as a pharmacist back in 1990, and then as a doctor in 1996.
For 5 years, she was the Primary Care Lead for Dermatology in the Elective Care Programme for Cheshire and Merseyside, and introduced a highly successful teledermatology service across the footprint following a successful pilot. She retains her interest in teledermatology and now AI in Dermatology as well.
She is a very experienced primary care dermatology educator, and has spent the last 10 years lecturing on primary care dermatology to GPs, medical students, nurses of all grades and specialties, pharmacists, and other health care professionals. She works with the RCGP (Royal College of General Practitioners), as well as the BAD (British Association of Dermatologists, of which she is an associate member) and a variety of other professional and educational organisations, lecturing both locally and nationally to upskill all primary care practitioners in dermatology. She is also the external examiner for the University of Buckingham diploma and MSc in post graduate dermatology.
On a personal note, she has a son with chronic eczema from birth, and is a medical adviser to the National Eczema Society
Bulletin co-editor
Perdy studied medicine at the University of Nottingham and graduated in 2008.
She has always found the human skin fascinating, but on becoming a GP, felt ill-equipped to really get on top of her patients’ skin problems, which present daily in practice and can have a huge impact on patients’ quality of life.
Hence, she undertook extra training by becoming a member of the PCDS and attending their excellent educational events, as well as shadowing local community dermatology clinics, where she was fortunate to receive outstanding teaching and mentorship. After achieving a Distinction in Cardiff University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology, Perdy gained accreditation as a GPwER in Dermatology and Skin Lesion Management in 2020.
Currently, she splits her time between working in General Practice, a Community Skin Service (seeing both inflammatory and lesion referrals as well as skin surgery) and a weekly 2WW skin cancer clinic, with a particular interest in dermoscopy and skin cancer. Perdy has been a tutor for the Cardiff diploma and regularly provides dermatology teaching for local GPs, GP trainees and nurses in primary care.
Outside of work she has a busy married life with three young children and Labrador. Perdy loves living in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside and enjoys many outdoor pursuits, from hiking to skiing. She is a keen amateur photographer, has a passion for live music and has recently taken up tennis.
Perdy is honoured to join the PCDS committee having experienced first-hand how valuable this society is for the improvement of skin health for our patients.
Sam trained and qualified as a paramedic in 2012 before transitioning into primary care in 2016, where his journey into advanced clinical practice began. With over ten years’ experience in generalist primary care, he developed a specialist interest in dermatology in 2022 following completion of a dermoscopy course.
This marked the start of a unique career pathway for a paramedic, combining advanced practice with a growing focus on skin disease management in primary care. In 2024, Sam graduated from Buckinghamshire New University with an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice (Distinction) and subsequently joined the faculty as a Senior Lecturer, contributing to the education and development of future Advanced Clinical Practitioners.
In his clinical role, Sam runs a weekly dermatology-focused clinic within primary care, managing a wide range of skin conditions and supporting colleagues through education and mentorship. He is actively involved in promoting high-quality primary care dermatology practice across the NHS and within higher education.
Sam was delighted to be appointed to the Primary Care Dermatology Society Committee in December 2024, where he contributes to both the Primary Care Practitioner and PCDS Bulletin teams.
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