IA is very sad to share the news of the recent death of Professor Neil Smart, PhD, FRCS, one of our trustees and co-chair of our research subcommittee. Neil was a prominent national and international figure in colorectal surgery, serving as a consultant surgeon at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and as Editor-in-Chief of Colorectal Disease, the Journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland. IA was immensely fortunate to have his support.

Many of you will have had the opportunity to meet Neil. He was a regular attendee at the annual IA Information Day and was himself awarded the Bryan Brooke Medal for his services to patients with bowel disease in 2017. Neil died at the age of only 50 after facing cancer with immense bravery, positivity, and dignity.

Even during the late stages of his illness when he was receiving treatment for cancer, he continued to contribute to academic surgery, to mentor and support his colleagues, and to promote the highest standards of surgical care. His commitment to IA is exemplified by his attendance at the IA AGM in April 2025, despite being in the final weeks of his life.

Neil was an extraordinary human being. The son of a coal miner in the Nottingham area, he was passionate about human rights from an early age and initially intended to pursue a career as a human rights lawyer, switching to Medicine after undertaking a PhD and medical training in Newcastle under the influence of Professor David Mendelow. Following further mentorship with Professor Mike Griffin and Bill Cunliffe in Newcastle/Gateshead and training in the USA, he pursued a career in surgical gastroenterology.

Neil was a brilliant and technically gifted surgeon, an insightful academic, and, most of all, a kind and thoughtful person. He had a genuine desire to improve the lives of people having surgery and living with its consequences. He remained incredibly devoted to his patients throughout his career and brought energy and wisdom to our Board of Trustees.

He was an incredibly courageous man. He remained positive and engaged in academic surgery throughout his illness and avoided allowing it to impact negatively on his life as much as he could. He spoke with often disarming candour about his illness and even his impending death. He leaves behind his wife, a teenage son, and a huge number of distressed colleagues and friends, and our thoughts are with them. British colorectal surgery, IA, and the patients who have benefited so much from Neil’s passion and expertise (including many members of IA) are immeasurably poorer for his premature death.

Professor Neil Smart, an extraordinary human being.