Most of the work of the College is achieved through sub-committees of Council. Council sub-committees fall into 2 groups, namely committees and specialty advisory committees (SACs). They each meet twice a year. Committees usually deal with general matters across all specialties, while SACs advise on specialty-specific matters. 

To learn more about what’s involved in this work, we spoke to Dr Natasha Ratnaraja, Chair of the Joint Medical Microbiology and Medical Virology SAC. She told us about her background, how she came to volunteer, and what value this work brings to College members and the wider profession.  

Can you tell us a bit about your background? What drew you to pathology (and specifically microbiology) as a profession? 

I grew up in Solihull. As a child I was interested in infections and how the body worked. I once gave my doll ‘worms around the heart’ (rubber bands laid on top of her chest), which I treated with ‘antibiotics’ made from my mum’s Elizabeth Arden perfume. I studied Medicine at Manchester University, where we only received 1 afternoon on microbiology – I remember the consultant who was teaching microbiology saying ‘this is a great job, you always get to finish at 5.’ How wrong she was… 

As part of my course I spent time at Monsall Hospital, the infectious diseases hospital in Manchester. I was fascinated by all the different types of infections I encountered, especially tropical diseases and tuberculosis (TB). In my 5th year, as part of my summer studentship, I chose an attachment on the newly opened infectious diseases ward at Manchester General Hospital. This was at a time when HIV was still causing a lot of morbidity and mortality, and it was a sobering but extremely educational experience. 

4 days after completing my house jobs I went to New Zealand for a year. I ended up staying for 8 years, undertaking postgraduate physician training. I saw a lot of infections like TB, rheumatic fever and serogroup B meningococcal disease (there was an epidemic of this at the time). My interest in infectious diseases grew, but at the same time I became aware of the importance of the laboratory in diagnosing infections. 

I was lucky enough to be the first infectious diseases/microbiology trainee at Wellington Hospital. It was incredibly busy but I saw firsthand how important it is to diagnose infections promptly and accurately. As a trainee I was privileged to be part of a team that brought cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in-house. I used my laboratory learning to develop a ‘CSF trolley’ that was a one-stop shop in Emergency Department (ED), with a flowchart of what specimens to take and how to optimise sampling. 

I came back to the UK in 2005 to complete my microbiology training, first at Addenbrookes and then in the West Midlands. I became a consultant microbiologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals in 2008, where I was able to be very visible on the wards as well as develop the laboratory service. I moved to University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire in 2018.   

You're currently Chair of the Joint Medical Microbiology and Medical Virology Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC) at RCPath. Can you tell us more about how you got involved and what this role entails? 

I fell into this role! I started on the SAC as the British Infection Association (BIA) representative. In 2020, I was asked if I would be the deputy Chair. I said yes as it seemed like a great opportunity. I became interim Chair when my predecessor stepped down, and was subsequently nominated for Chair. 

The job entails chairing the SAC meeting 2–3 times a year, though that is actually the smallest part of it. I also review educational material from external sources to see if RCPath deems it suitable to endorse. I take this job very seriously and love it because it is educational.

Moreover, I comment on key national documents and help prepare position statements on key infection issues such as antimicrobial resistance. I chair and speak at RCPath webinars and help with other educational material. I also attend College Council meetings and other strategy meetings. It is an incredibly busy job and can be hard to manage alongside the day job, but I really enjoy it. 

I also occasionally help with webinars and other educational material, and have helped out at the Pathology Summer School which runs every August. 

How does this work benefit/bring value to members of the College? 

As Chair I have tried to ensure that the SAC has a programme of initiatives that could benefit members. The College collaborated with the BIA to develop the ‘Best Practice Standards for the delivery of NHS infection services in the United Kingdom’, and ‘The State of Hospital Infection Services in the UK: National Workforce Survey 2021.’ These have both been published.

We have also led on writing ‘Tools for optimising clinical consultation activity in Infection Services in the United Kingdom’, which has been submitted for publication. The increasing demands on the microbiology/virology workforce are a challenge in the context of a diminishing workforce. This is a key aim of the College, to see what we can do to help our members with regards to this. 

We have been asking our trainee members what educational material they would like to see, and are trying to develop webinars that will benefit trainees, consultants, overseas members and allied health professionals to ensure we can help meet educational needs. 

What are your favourite things about volunteering with the College? 

There is a real sense of team within the College; it is a very supportive environment. I feel that the College has evolved and is really seeking to improve workforce challenges as much as it can within its remit. When you are working with good colleagues who want the same as you it helps with the workload challenges being a volunteer can present. I really feel that the College is moving forwards with patients and members at the heart of everything it does. 

Has volunteering benefited your professional development in any way? 

I feel more confident chairing meetings and speaking in public. I am learning more about governance and how the different bodies interact with each other. 

What advice do you have for other members who are interested in volunteering with the College? 

Go for it! If you want to change something you need to help make that change happen. Be realistic; it is a lot of work and takes some time management skills. Speak to people within the College to get a feel of what is involved for the role you are interested in. It is always good to have a new perspective on issues and new members are welcomed; I was. 

Please get in touch if you have any questions; no question is stupid so don’t be afraid to ask! 

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Are you interested in working in a governance position with the College? If so, the nomination phase for the election of a number of College Council roles will open tomorrow, Friday 7 June 2024. Make sure you check our volunteer vancancies page tomorrow for more information. 

Besides these roles, there are always plenty of opportunities to get involved in the College’s work. As well as supporting our mission to advance the science and practice of pathology, volunteering is also a fantastic way to build up your CPD portfolio with diverse and interesting activities. If you are interested, please join us in developing and supporting excellence in pathology for healthcare across the world. 

If you are interested in telling your story as a College member, or have another idea for a blog, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at [email protected].