We are delighted to announce that the SMMC Trustees have appointed Dr Caitlin Rees as Deputy Medical Adviser to the Scottish Motorsport Marshals Club.
Caitlin will work alongside our Medical Adviser, Dr Ben Shippey, helping to provide clinical leadership, advice and governance across the Club, with a particular focus on supporting the work of the Rescue & Medical Group.
Caitlin is an experienced doctor working within the Major Trauma Centre in Aberdeen, where her day-to-day clinical work gives her extensive experience in the assessment and management of seriously injured and acutely unwell patients.
She is also a familiar face at motorsport events, working predominantly across circuit racing and rallies. That combination of current major trauma experience and practical motorsport medicine gives her a particularly valuable perspective on the challenges of delivering high-quality care in the motorsport environment.
Her appointment as Deputy Medical Adviser recognises the skills, experience and enthusiasm she already brings to the Club and gives her a wider role in supporting the continuing development of our medical and rescue provision.
Working with Ben, Caitlin will help support clinical governance within the Rescue & Medical Group, contribute to the development of training and clinical standards, and provide advice to the Trustees and operational teams on medical matters. A key part of that work will be continuing to raise standards, strengthen our clinical practice and improve safety for competitors, volunteers and everyone involved in the events we support.
Rescue & Medical Group Coordinator Jon Bolton, said that the appointment is also a very welcome recognition of the contribution Caitlin is already making to the team:
“I’m genuinely delighted that Caitlin has agreed to take on the role of Deputy Medical Adviser. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her at a number of events and I’ve seen first hand just how much she brings to the Club and the motorsport.
“She is an excellent doctor, but just as importantly, she is calm, thoughtful, approachable and always willing to get involved, share her experience, and help others develop.
“Caitlin is already a hugely valued part of the Rescue & Medical Group, and this appointment feels like a very natural next step. I’m really pleased that we’ll be able to draw even more on her experience and enthusiasm as we continue to develop the Group, raise standards and improve the safety and quality of the service we provide. We’re very lucky to have both Ben and Caitlin supporting us.”
Caitlin’s appointment strengthens the clinical leadership available to the Club as the Rescue & Medical Group continues to develop. Bringing together doctors, paramedics, rescue personnel and other specialist volunteers, the RMG plays an important role in ensuring that our members are well trained, well supported, and able to deliver the highest possible standards at motorsport events.
At the heart of that work is a simple aim: to keep learning, keep improving, and continue raising the standard of rescue and medical support across Scottish motorsport.
We are very pleased that Caitlin has agreed to take on the role and look forward to working with her in this next stage of the development of SMMC’s Rescue & Medical Group.