UDOTS Director promoted as Professor

After being nominated by Professor Rory McCrimmon (Dean of the Medical School) Mr Arpit Jariwala (UDOTS Director & Consultant Shoulder, Elbow and Trauma Surgeon, NHS Tayside) has been appointed Honorary Professor by members of the Honorary Appointments Committee in September 2022.

Professor Arpit Jariwala arrived in Dundee 20 years ago this week to enrol on the MCh (Orth) Dundee programme and graduated with the degree in 2003. He gained his MRCS Ed in 2006 as well as an FRCS Ed T&O in 2011. Following this, in 2015, he gained his MD from the University of Dundee on research investigating the kinematics of shoulder replacement.

Professor Jariwala is currently a Consultant Upper Limb and Trauma Surgeon for NHS Tayside in Scotland, Upper Limb Lead for the NHS Tayside Orthopaedics Department and Upper Limb Audit Lead for NHS. 

In November 2019, he was appointed Director of the University of Dundee’s Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (UDOTS) and Course Director for the Master of Orthopaedic Surgery (MCh Orth) programme. This was in recognition of his extensive involvement in teaching, training and supervision of research projects for undergraduate, postgraduate and MCh (Orth) students over the last two decades.

Everyone at UDOTS would like to congratulate Professor Jariwala on his well-deserved promotion and show their appreciation for his commitment to UDOTS since taking over as Director in 2019. His dedication to the well-being and understanding of staff and his passion for constantly improving upon the students’ experience has been rightly rewarded with his Honorary Professorship.

Left: Mr Jariwala with his fellow orthopaedic consultants in 2016, Mr Gillies Avison, Mr Dave Nicoll, Mr Ben Clift, the late Professor David Rowley, Mr Manhal Nassif, Mr Gavin Love, Mr Sankar Sripada; Right: teaching on the MCh (Orth) Dundee programme.

Mr Ben Clift (Associate Medical Director for Workforce planning, NHS Tayside & Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Ninewells Hospital remarked:

“Arpit joins a very distinguished line of academics leading the University of Dundee academic department of orthopaedics. The late Ian Smillie began that line in 1967 when he was appointed to the inaugural chair, at that time being part of the University of St Andrews. He was a remarkably accomplished and innovative clinical academic, who pioneered many aspects of knee surgery. He was then succeeded by George Murdoch, who in the latter stages of his career focused on building up Dundee’s international reputation in amputations, prosthetics and rehabilitation. The new era began in 1989 with the appointment from Manchester of the late David Rowley, a truly remarkable and energetic man, a natural surgeon and a force of nature, who put Dundee back on the map in a big way. Rami Abboud then led the department through a very challenging time, with great adroitness and political savvy, for which we are all grateful. I was a close colleague of the last two, and briefly knew George Murdoch at the tail of his long career. I have watched and participated in the ups and downs of the university department for the last 36 years, having been both a lecturer and senior lecturer in my time. It is with that background that I am delighted to say that Arpit is a very worthy addition to the academic line. He is an outstanding upper limb surgeon, a dedicated educator and a diligent researcher. We are in good hands again. I first met him as a callow MCh (Orth) student about 20 years ago, and we spent much of a very happy year in theatre together. He was always destined for greatness, and we were all delighted when he re-joined the department after his very prestigious and productive fellowship training. I should add that David Rowley, with whom Arpit worked closely, would have been absolutely thrilled to know of his elevation to the chair into which he had put so much of himself for more than 20 years. He had an eye for orthopaedic and academic talent, and Arpit undoubtedly has both. Finally, I should add that beyond his clinical and career accomplishments, Arpit is a most congenial companion, who has both the humility and the necessary sense of humour to survive in the choppy waters of both the NHS and UK academia. We are blessed to have him in the role!”

Professor Arpit Jariwala commented:

“It is 20 years this month since I came to the UK in 2002, to pursue my MCh (Orth) Dundee degree at the University of Dundee, and it is so heartening and humbling to get this promotion. I would like to thank all my mentors throughout my 20-year journey to become a Consultant Upper Limb & Trauma Surgeon at NHS Tayside and an Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee as without the support of each and every one of them this journey would not have been successful. I would like to thank my colleagues and staff in the University Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (UDOTS), School of Medicine and Orthopaedic Department in NHS Tayside who have helped me to build upon my career continually. Finally, I would like to thank my family who have supported me unconditionally in my orthopaedic journey.

The future for UDOTS looks bright seeing the increasing number of students, despite the very difficult times endured during the last few years. In addition, we are entertaining a record number of research and collaborative interests not just from the UK but also abroad which is a sign of an active and progressive department. I have great hopes that we can slowly take the UDOTS to new heights with increasing support from the School of Medicine (UoD), NHS Tayside Orthopaedic Department and our collaborative partners in the UK and aboard.”