The Theatre: Surgical Learning and Innovation Podcast

With all the buzz around artificial intelligence in recent years, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why the Innovation Hub team is back—to break down the basics and bring you up to speed on the latest AI tools shaping the future of surgery. In this episode, Ryan Kerstein and Eve McMahon unpack how AI is transforming not just patient care, but the surgical profession itself. From real-time decision support to the emerging “Internet of Surgical Things,” we explore the cutting-edge technologies enhancing precision, reducing risk, and redefining what it means to be a surgeon in the digital age. But with great power comes great responsibility—so how do we ensure these tools are used ethically and effectively? Featuring insights from leading medical innovators and AI experts, this conversation reveals how that future of surgery might be written in code. Hosted by: Ryan Kerstein & Eve McMahonGuest: Umang Patel  Produced by: Andrea Pearson  For more information on the RCS England Innovation Hub please visit our website: RCS England Innovation Hub — Royal College of Surgeons  For more information on RCS England please visit our website: The Royal College of Surgeons of England — Royal College of Surgeons We would love to hear from you so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at: Podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk   -ResourcesNHS 10-Year Plan: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6866387fe6557c544c74db7a/fit-for-the-future-10-year-health-plan-for-england.pdf UMass Memorial Health and KATE AI: https://www.ummhealth.org/about-us/newsroom/umass-memorial-health-scales-kate-ai-platform-emergency-departments-systemwide-to-enhance-patient Ping An Good Doctor:  https://www.ft.com/partnercontent/ping-an-insurance/bridges-to-health-for-chinas-people.html Recent Bulletin article on using AI in healthcare: Gupta, S., Edwards, L. “Cracking the code: successfully navigating AI medical device innovation and regulation” The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 107.3 (2025). https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/full/10.1308/rcsbull.2025.56 AI playbook for the UK Government MHRA Medical Device Guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64a7d22d7a4c230013bba33c/Medical_device_stand-alone_software_including_apps__including_IVDMDs_.pdf Dataset biases: Kakish, D.R.K., AlSamhori, J.F., et al. “Transforming Dermatopathology With AI: Addressing Bias, Enhancing Interpretability, and Shaping Future Diagnostics.” Dermatological Reviews, 6: e70018. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1002/der2.70018 Umang Patel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drumangpatel/?originalSubdomain=uk 

Join us for this month’s episode where Rhiannon Richards sits down with Felicity Meyer, Helen Skinner and Jade Whing to explore the challenges and experiences faced by pregnant surgical trainees and how supervisors can play a major role in supporting trainees who are navigating their surgical training whilst pregnant.  Host: Rhiannon RichardsRhiannon Richards is a Yorkshire General Surgical trainee, a former Leadership Fellow for Supported Return to Training and mother to two children. Her leadership work has focused on pregnancy in surgery, improving the process of returning to surgical training after time out and national research into complex phased returns.Guest: Felicity MeyerFelicity Meyer is the current Chair of the RCS England Women in Surgery Forum, having previously been their Flexible Working Advisor. She is a Consultant Vascular Surgeon working across Norfolk and Deputy Medical Director at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn. She has three adult children and is passionate about teaching and training: everyone must have equal access to a fantastic surgical career.Guest: Helen SkinnerHelen Skinner is an ST4 General Surgery trainee working in the Yorkshire & Humber deanery. She was elected to the ASiT Council as Yorkshire and Humber regional Representative in 2021 and joined the Executive Committee in March 2023 as Webmaster & Bursary Liaison. She has an interesting training and education, sustainability and increasing diversity in the surgical workforce. Guest: Jade WhingJade Whing is a perpetual ST6 Vascular Surgery Registrar working in the East of England. She has a keen interest in necrotic legs, trauma, and global surgery, having previously worked in South Africa. Currently on maternity leave, she solo-parents a dinosaur-obsessed two-year-old and a10-week-old baby — all while her partner has spent the past year living away, completing a trauma surgery fellowship and sitting exams. She is exhausted.  ResourcesThe impact of parental and caring responsibilities on surgical careersParents in Surgery ReportDelivering Ambitious Change for Parents in SurgeryJCST– Return to work guidance  Produced by: Andrea Pearson We would love to hear from you so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at ⁠podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk

How do you lead as a woman of colour in surgery? Join us as Hannah Maple sits down with Evelyn Mensah and Sala Abdalla to discuss the experiences of women of colour in surgery from personal stories, the impact of racism, and theirjourneys towards leadership. We delve into the importance of leadership, offering advice for aspiring women surgeons, and emphasise the power of visibility and support. Don't miss this compelling conversation that challenges and inspires!Guest: Evelyn MensahEvelyn (Evie) Mensah, Consultant Ophthalmologist and WRES Expert at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust is part of the London and Medical WRES Strategy Groups. Evie leads ophthalmology and anti-racism initiatives globally, aiming for equitable healthcare. She championsinstitutional courage. In October 2024, Evie was appointed as the President for the Ophthalmology section of the Royal Society of Medicine. During her two year tenure she hopes to foster closer relationships between ophthalmologists andthe wider multi-disciplinary team.Guest: Sala AbdallaDr Sala Abdalla is a Consultant General, Emergency and Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgeon at the London North West University Healthcare Trust. Dr Abdalla is the author of numerous publications in the field of surgery and surgical education including two textbooks; 'A History of Surgery' which she co-authored with Harold Ellis CBE FRCS, showcasing her dedication to exploring the rich history of surgical practices across the globe, and 'Cracking the general surgical interviews for ST3', which serves as a valuable preparatory resource for aspiring surgeons. DrAbdalla is deeply invested in advancing global access to surgical care. She is the founder and director of a surgical charity called Operation International UK which has close collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Her charity delivers free surgical care and education tounderserved communities around the world. She has received two national awards for her charitable work and cites her charity as one of her proudest achievements. Hosted by: Hannah MapleHannah Maple is a Consultant Transplant and Dialysis Access surgeon based at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and the lead for simulation research. Hannah is the past-Chair of the Ethical, Legal and Psychosocial aspects of Transplantation section (ELPAT) of the European Society of Organ Transplantation and completed the Emerging Leaders Fellowship, awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in 2023. Resources·       Watch Evelyn Mensah’s inaugural address when appointed as the President for the Ophthalmology Section of the Royal Society of Medicine: OPT01 - Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Ophthalmology through the Eyes of a Geordie Ghanaian - Zoom·       How can I be antiracist·       Cracking the General Surgical Interviews for ST3·       The Kennedy Review·       Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard in England·       GMC data supporting the Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard in England·       NHS Workforce Race Equality StandardNews & Updates from RCS England· RCS England is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Emerging Leaders programme. Applications open on 15 May and closes on 1 September 2025.· RCS England: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion / Interested in getting involved or supporting our work? Please contact: diversity@rcseng.ac.uk· The 2025 UK surgical workforce census is now open. It’s quick, confidential and crucial. Your voice helps us push for real change where it matters most, from tackling workforce shortages to improving wellbeing and training. Take the census now: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/surgical-workforce-census/?utm_source=Digital&utm_medium=TheTheatre&utm_campaign=Census2025Produced by: Andrea PearsonWe would love to hear from you so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk

Join us as we sit down with Mohammed Belal, a consultant urological surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Mohammed shares his remarkable journey of recovery from a severe spinal cord injury, a life-altering event that saw him transition from surgeon to patient and back again. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that explores the profound resilience required to not only heal but also to return to theatre. Offering insights into the emotional and physical challenges surgeons face when the roles are reversed, Mohammed’s story is a testament of strength, vulnerability, and the intricate connections between our professional and personal lives.  Guest: Mohammed Belal Mohammed Belal is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Hosted by: Andrea Pearson Produced by: Andrea Pearson We would love to hear from you so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk For more information on RCS England please visit our website: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/ 

In today's episode, Ryan Kerstein and Eve McMahon, from the RCS England Innovation Hub (iHub) sit down with Professor Jag Dhanda and Ameen Mahmood to discuss extended reality, specifically virtual reality in medicine and surgery (VRiMS). Join us as we discuss the world of extended reality and their transformative potential in healthcare. Guest: Professor Jag Dhanda Professor Jag Dhanda is an Oral and Maxillofacial/Head and Neck Surgeon and founder of Virtual Reality in Medicine and Surgery (VRiMS). Guest: Ameen Mahmood Ameen is a medical student at Imperial College London. He is an RAF Medical Officer Bursar and aspiring military plastic surgeon with passions in surgical innovation, medical technology and improving widening access to medicine. He is the co-founder and co-chair of the VRiMS Surgical Society. Ameen contributes to VRiMS through event facilitation, workshops, and developing innovative teaching methods to enhance surgical education. Hosted by: Ryan Kerstein & Eve McMahon Produced by: Andrea Pearson For more information on VRiMS please visit their website: https://www.vrims.net/ For more information on the RCS England Innovation Hub please visit our website: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/future-of-surgery/innovation-hub/ For more information on RCS England please visit our website: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/ We would love to hear from you so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk Referenceshttps://www.xrhealthuk.org/the-growing-value-of-xr-in-healthcareLaver, Kate E., et al. "Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation." Cochranedatabase of systematic reviews 11 (2017). Bordeleau, Martine, et al. "The use of virtual reality in back pain rehabilitation: asystematic review and meta-analysis." The journal of pain 23.2(2022): 175-195.Please, Helen, et al. "Virtual reality technology for surgical learning: qualitativeoutcomes of the first virtual reality training course for emergency andessential surgery delivered by a UK–Uganda partnership." BMJ OpenQuality 13.1 (2024): e002477.https://www.virti.com/insights/news/evolution-of-virtual-humans-authentic-digital-personas/#:~:text=who%20need%20it.-,Training,scenarios%20more%20accessible%20and%20immersive.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl13n4TDSQA

Join us as we delve into the world of surgical mentorship, exploring what makes a good mentor through real-life stories and practical tips. We sat down with Michaella Cameron, Ian Kamaly-Asl & Casie Sweeney to discuss the qualities that make a great mentor, the benefits of mentoring for both mentor and mentee, and how mentorship can foster growth, communication, and leadership skills. We also tackle the tricky subject of imposter syndrome - an issue many professionals, including mentors, face. Tune in for an engaging and insightful conversation that highlights the transformative power of mentorship in surgery. Guest: Michaella Cameron Michaella Cameron is an ST6 ENT registrar in London with a strong interest in mentoring and supporting surgical trainees. She is a member of the BRS Juniors Committee and the WINS Forum. As an RCS Emerging Leaders alumna, she is committed to empowering women in surgery and improving diversity for ethnic minority doctors. Guest: Ian Kamaly-Asl Ian Kamaly-Asl is Professor of paediatric neurosurgery at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.  He is the Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS) representative on the Royal College of Surgeons of England Council.  He is the SBNS lead for tackling bullying, undermining and harassment and introduced the SBNS national mentoring scheme. Guest: Casie Sweeney Casie is a CT2 in Orthopaedics and a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, where she has served for 17 years—proving that career paths don’t always follow a straight line; sometimes, they take detours through war zones. She is passionate about training, mentoring, and leadership, firmly believing that investing in these will save the NHS. When she’s not moving through the hospital like a controlled explosion, she’s a dedicated daughter, sister, and godmother who enjoys running, lifting, and keeping her houseplants (mostly) alive. Hosted & produced by: Andrea Pearson RCS England is currently accepting mentor registrations and will open mentee registrations for our pilot programmes this upcoming spring. Our mentorship programmes are exclusively available to RCS England members. To learn more about the benefits of joining the College and becoming a member please visit our website. We would love to hear from you so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk. For more information on RCS England please visit our website: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/ 

In our exciting return, we sat down with José Martínez, an emergency department research nurse, who after a traumatic cycling accident found himself in his workplace hospital as a trauma patient. Offering insights into the emotional and physical challenges healthcare professionals face when the roles are reversed, Josés story is a testament of strength, vulnerability, and the intricate connections between our professional and personal lives. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that explores the profound resilience required to heal both physically and mentally.Guest: José MartínezJosé Martínez qualified as a nurse at the Balearic Islands University. He moved to the UK in 2012 where he has spent over 10 years working in the emergency department at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Following his accident, he has shown a great interest on patient experience in trauma, delivering speeches in conferences in Oxford, London, Las Vegas amongothers. We would love to hear from you so please do reach out to uson social media, or email us at podcasts@rcseng.ac.ukFor more information on RCS England please visit ourwebsite:https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/Hosted by: Andrea PearsonProduced by: Andrea Pearson

Welcome back to The Theatre, the podcast for the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The Theatre is an ongoing conversation on surgery and surgical training featuring practitioners from around the world, with discussions ranging from DEI, culture and environment, leadership, innovation, learning and professional development. We are thrilled to be back, bringing you brand new episodes with topics from both inside and outside the surgical theatre. Look forward to monthly episodes coming soon and as always, thank you for listening. Produced by: Andrea Pearson We would love to hear from you so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk For more information on RCS England please visit our website: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/

In this episode, colorectal surgeon and Clinical Lead for the College's Excellence in Surgical Supervision (ESS) course, Dan Beral, leads a panel discussion on trainee wellbeing, how trainers can facilitate conversations with their trainees on mental health, as well as some of the barriers to having these important discussions. Dan is joined for this episode by Zaid al-Najjar, Medical Director for NHS Practitioner Health, colorectal consultant Shirley Chan, and orthopaedic trainee Robyn Brown. There are many resources online for wellbeing and mental health, but here are some that might be particularly relevant for surgeons, as selected by Robyn Brown: NHS Practitioner Health Starting the conversation tips Having a conversation around mental health NHS How to have a wellbeing conversation Resources for having a wellbeing conversation Mental health language and stigma Time to Talk day posters for workplace Looking after employees’ wellbeing Parents in Surgery RCS BOA resources for parents

October is Black History Month in the UK, and this month's theme is 'Celebrating Our Sisters.' For this month's episode, RCS England's Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Corriene Bailey-Bearfield sits down with orthopaedic consultant, Samantha Tross for a candid conversation about personal journeys, social responsibility, and Black History Month itself.

This is the third episode in our ongoing series on the theme of Ethical Leadership, presented by Salman Ahmed and Aya Musbahi. This time around, they are joined by Professor Joyce Liddle of Northumbria University for a conversation on public value in the healthcare service. The discussion covers what value looks like for a public body like the NHS in terms of service delivery, who creates this value, and what this means for surgeons and other healthcare professionals. We hope listeners will be able to take away what they hear today and consider what value creation looks like in their own workplaces. As always, we are looking to hear from you, so please do reach out to us on social media, or email us at podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk

When a parent, grandparent, caregiver or any significant adult in a child's life is going through a stressful time, children can sense it. Children often try to rationalise the stress they feel from others and draw their own conclusions about what is happening to those around them.   As surgeons, we often overlook the importance of suggesting to the patient that they should discuss the impact of a diagnosis or treatment plan with family, particularly the children in their lives, which will have a positive impact on those around them. In this episode, Professor Arunthathi Mahendran, Institute Director for the Institute of Heath Science Education, leads the conversation with Louise Dalton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Dr. Elizabeth Rapa, Senior Post Doctoral Researcher on how to communicate with children when a family member is expected to undergo medical treatment.   Our guests share insights and advice on how to have these conversations with children following a diagnosis and provide prompts that healthcare professionals can use to ensure families have the awareness and tools to approach the topic themselves. Below we have also provided links to resources that offer a step-by-step guide for talking about illness, tailored to both healthcare professionals and families.   For healthcare professionals: https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/files/research/guide-for-hcps.pdf  For families: https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/files/research/guide-for-families.pdf   Don't miss out on this crucial conversation; tune in now to hear from experts in this field.

February is LGBTQ+ History Month, and for us that means returning to a topic that we’ve touched on a few times over the life of this podcast, and that is issues facing queer surgeons in the workplace. Up to this point, we’ve focused exclusively on the experiences of LGBTQ+ surgeons in the UK, but for this episode, we are featuring members of our own Pride in Surgery Forum (aka Prism) in conversation with members of Pride in Medicine, a multispecialty group of doctors in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Through this podcast, we wanted to highlight common issues facing LGBTQ+ clinicians in another country, explain different approaches being taken to gaining LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility, and discuss how perceptions of the impacts of homophobia and transphobia differ between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ people. This episode features Pride in Surgery Forum (PRiSM) chair and consultant vascular surgeon Ginny Bowbrick with PRiSM vice-chair and orthopaedic registrar Karen Chui, in conversation with members of Pride in Medicine: general surgeon Richard Turner and general surgery follow Matt Marino.  As a note on terminology, this podcast uses the term "Mardi Gras," which, for listners outside Australia refers to the Pride Festival in Sydney.

This episode centres around the perspectives of Muslim women in surgery, and in particular the challenges faced by hijab-wearing Muslim women in both theatre environments and in their trusts. Featuring a panel led by core surgical trainee Azra Khatun, along with colorectal consultant and RCS Council Member Nuha Yassin, vascular registrar Nina Al-Saadi and paediatric registrar Farah Roslan, this podcast aims to show a range of experiences that hijab-wearing women face in the surgical world, while offering guidance and encouragement to those coming through medical school and aspiring to a career in surgery. As Azra says in a recent RCS Bulletin article on her work on the Surgical Scarf initiative: 'Research demonstrates that the lack of consideration for religious dress codes in the operating theatre has compromised access to training and surgical career pathways for a growing number of Muslim women surgeons and medical students. Many women were left feeling anxious and bullied, subsequently opting for alternative specialties. During a recent meeting of the British Islamic Medical Association’s dress code group, it became clear that each of us from different UK hospitals shared similar experiences of not being able to wear our headscarf in theatre. Many of us were being told to leave the theatre and to wear a theatre cap while some reported that surgery could not be a career option because of this.' For the recent Bulletin articles by the featured panellists, please see the links below. The Surgical Scarf Project by Azra Khatun Cut from the Same Cloth? by Nina Al-Saadi et al

Though numerous studies have been undertaken showing the efficacy of drug therapies for breast cancer prevention, many primary and secondary care professionals remain unaware that these preventative treatments exist. In fact, drugs such as Tamoxifen are both extremely safe and provide protection long after the suggested five-year course of treatment.  Produced in collaboration with Health Innovation Manchester and featuring a panel consisting of breast surgeon Ms Rosie Stanton; Macmillan GP Clinical Cancer Lead Dr Nicola Weaver; Dr Sacha Howel, medical oncologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester; and Dr Gareth Evans, professor of medical genetics and cancer epidemiology at the University of Manchester, this podcast aims to give surgeons and other health care professionals an overview of the treatments available, how they work and which groups of patients would most benefit from them. To send us feedback or propose a topic for a future podcast, please get in touch at podcasts@rcseng.ac.uk Visit Health Innovation Manchester for more information on their suite of breast cancer prevention learning resources.

In part one of our ongoing investigation of Ethical Leadership with Aya Musbahi and Salman Ahmed, listeners were invited to consider the concept of “ethical leadership,” as well as how this can be applied to surgeons in the modern health service. This second episode discusses the issue of efficiency in the context of healthcare, and how questions of efficiency and service delivery often become issues of ethics and leadership. The episode is structured in two segments, with the first featuring Aya and Salman discussing the realtionship between equity and efficiency in the context of issues such as employee performance; while in the second segment, Aya and Salman invite Kevin Magee, Chief Executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for a conversation on how health organisations can become ethically led, given current pressures such as resource scarcity and increasing wait times for operations.  Opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Despite advances in the field of sexual health medicine in recent years, there remain persistent myths and misconceptions, both amongst the general public, as well as between medical professionals who do not specialise in this area. Indeed, the stigmas surrounding conditions such as HIV and syphilis may have repercussions for patient care if health practitioners are unable to properly administer these patients as a result of poor information. This series of discussions, featuring colorectal surgeon and Women in Surgery Chair, Tamzin Cuming, and sexual health physician Diarmuid Nugent, aims to provide surgeons with some basic information on the subject so that they may confidently treat patients in their surgical clinics when these conditions and issues may be relevant.  The first episode in this series will discuss recent advances in HIV medicine, such as PrEP and U=U, and how these developments have changed the way healthcare professionals treat patients living with HIV. Listeners are encouraged to describe how these concepts may impact their own clinical practice, recognise when it may be appropriate to test for HIV in the surgical clinic and discuss the evolving language in this area, noting why some terms may contribute to stigma.

The authority gap between men and other genders in surgery will perhaps take years to equilibrate, but is this gap getting wider with more women of colour entering surgical specialities? Is it natural for men to automatically assign women in surgery to the roles of a scrub nurse, a translator, a scribe, or a receptionist? The podcast features the hurdles that women of colour experience in the workplace and how they reclaim their roles as surgeons.

Over the last three years Chris Lewis and James Tomlinson have developed a new surgical boot camp for ST3 trauma and orthopaedic trainees at their trust in Yorkshire, focusing on leadership, professionalism, and the complexities of the registrar role, with an aim towards getting the most from the surgical team around them in the pursuit of outstanding patient care. The sessions have been delivered by trainees who have undertaken formal leadership fellowships, developing the skills of both those attending the bootcamp as well as those delivering it.  Today, Chris and James are joined by Vivek Balachandar and Erin Demoulin to discuss the evolution of the bootcamp and the lessons learned from its implementation. As always, opinions expressed on this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the official views of RCS England.

This is a re-release of the first episode of our four-part series on LGBTQ+ people in surgery. We're bringing this episode to the top of the list again, because we are hosting a conference event for LGBTQ+ surgeons on the 25th of March, both in person at the RCS England building in London, as well as online. It is an all-day event, with plenty of speakers and opportunities for networking. For more information on the event, including how to buy tickets, can be found here.