Uniting for Progress: A year on since the new College Steering Group’s Formation
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) and the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK (FSEM) have been forging an exciting path towards creating a College of Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine. What began as conversations and shared vision is now firm progress. Here is where we stand, as we mark over a year since the formation of the College Steering Group.
From vision to action
The College Steering Group, chaired by Dr Dan Morris, was established to oversee the transition from our two respected organisations into a single, multidisciplinary College that reflects the evolving landscape of sport, exercise, and musculoskeletal medicine. Since its formation, the group has played a central role in shaping the direction of the College, supporting key decisions and guiding progress across governance, operations, and member engagement. In the early months of 2025, the group helped lay important groundwork for the transition, including strengthening project coordination and ensuring that planning processes were robust and forward-thinking. These steps provided a clear framework for the work ahead and helped build momentum across teams.
As the year progressed, further collaborative efforts between BASEM and FSEM were supported by the Steering Group, including initiatives to better understand shared membership and align future services. These developments have helped inform ongoing discussions around how the College will operate and serve its members. The Steering Group continues to provide strategic oversight and continuity, ensuring that the College remains rooted in its founding principles and is well-positioned for the next phase of its journey.
The new college name
One of the most visible outcomes of this work was the announcement of the College’s name in June 2025. The College of Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine (CSEM) was chosen to reflect the breadth of disciplines and professional backgrounds represented within the SEM community. This name signals a commitment to inclusivity and acknowledges the vast number of multidisciplinary individuals and organisations working across sport, exercise, and musculoskeletal care. It was selected to reflect this multidisciplinary nature of SEM and the collaborative ethos that underpins the new College. By embracing a title that encompasses the full scope of the specialty, with the addition of musculoskeletal, the College positions itself as a welcoming and representative body for all professionals in the field. The name also reinforces a shared vision for advancing SEM through education, research, and integrated practice. Its announcement marked a key milestone in the College’s formation, defining not just what it is called, but what it stands for.
CSEM’s inaugural Board of Trustees
Shortly after the name was confirmed, the inaugural Board of Trustees was elected. This group will lead the College through its formative phase, with roles for Dr Julia Newton (President), Professor Courtney Kipps and Professor Dane Vishnubala (Vice-Presidents), Dr Polly Baker (Honorary Secretary), and Dr Sonia Bains (Honorary Treasurer). Their leadership will help to shape the College’s identity, values, and strategic direction. Each member brings a unique blend of clinical experience, academic insight, and organisational leadership, ensuring that the College is guided by a team deeply embedded in the SEM community. Together, they are tasked with laying the foundations for a sustainable and inclusive future, developing governance structures, supporting member engagement, and ensuring the College reflects the needs of a broad and multidisciplinary professional base.
Speaking about the significance of this moment, Dr Julia Newton shared:
“It will be an honour to represent the combined membership of these two great organisations that have been a part of my career for 20 years. Getting to this point has been an incredible team effort led by the current and past presidents, chairs, office bearers, board members and staff representing the aspirations and ambitions of the membership of both organisations.
Once formation of the college is complete, we have an impressive and dedicated newly elected board ready to lead on the next stage of the journey, and continue to unite and grow both our multidisciplinary College and our specialty.”
Her words reflect the spirit of collaboration and optimism that has defined the College’s development so far. As the transition progresses from planning into implementation, the Board’s role will be pivotal in translating vision into action and ensuring that the College continues to grow with purpose and integrity.
Those words are echoed by Professor Dane Vishnubala, who will serve alongside Professor Courtney Kipps as one of the two Vice-Presidents of the new College:
“It is a real delight and privilege to serve as one of the two Vice Presidents of the College of Sport and Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine. My vision for the College comes from my own journey in sport and exercise medicine, a journey shaped by inspiring mentors, the joy of teaching, and the deep sense of belonging I’ve found in our community. Creating spaces where people can connect, share challenges, and celebrate successes together is extremely important to me. I believe we will thrive when we are connected, supported, and feel truly at home in our College. I look forward to working with colleagues to make our College feel like a home!”
Further CSEM Developments
The development of the College’s brand has also been a key focus. A consultation process involving members and stakeholders helped define the visual and conceptual identity of CSEM. By the time this article reaches readers, the new brand will have been revealed to members, symbolising a fresh chapter and a shared vision for the future.
Beyond these headline developments, the College Steering Group has continued to support and guide progress across a range of operational and strategic areas. Between January and April 2025, the group engaged Eastside People to assist with project coordination and planning. As previously mentioned, a dedicated project manager was appointed to oversee delivery, and a comprehensive project plan, risk register, and decision-making protocol were developed to ensure clarity and accountability throughout the transition.
In April, BASEM and FSEM implemented a formal Data Sharing Agreement to support the planning and development of the new College. This agreement has helped identify shared membership across both organisations and assess how services and benefits can be aligned moving forward.
Since then, the Steering Group has remained actively involved in shaping key aspects of the College’s structure and future operations. This has included supporting decisions around governance, membership pathways, and professional standards, ensuring that each area reflects the College’s values and long-term vision. While many details are still being finalised, the group’s continued input has provided consistency and direction as the College moves closer to formal establishment.
What this means for members
While the transition continues, both BASEM and FSEM remain operational as separate entities, ensuring continuity of services and support for their respective members. You’ll continue to receive the same benefits, communications, and access to resources as usual, while work behind the scenes progresses to shape the new College.
Engagement with members remains a top priority throughout this process. We know that many of you have questions about what the new College will mean for your membership, and we’re committed to keeping you informed as things evolve. The College Steering Group and staff teams have been working to develop a membership structure that reflects the diversity of the SEM community, one that is inclusive, recognises a wide range of professional backgrounds, and offers clear pathways for involvement and progression.
While final details are still being confirmed, the new College will offer a welcoming professional home for everyone with an interest in sport, exercise and musculoskeletal medicine. More information will be shared with our members in the coming months, and we encourage you to stay connected through our website, newsletters, and upcoming events.
Reflecting and looking ahead
As we reflect on the past year, it’s clear that the formation of the Steering Group marked a key moment for our progression towards a new College. What began as a shared ambition has evolved into a structured, collaborative effort to build a College that represents the full spectrum of SEM practice. The progress made so far is a testament to the dedication of those involved and the strength of the SEM community.
For those interested in exploring the journey in more detail, the full timelines, additional information, as well as previous updates and announcements are available on both the BASEM and FSEM websites.