The Theatre: Surgical Learning & Innovation Podcast

In this episode of The Theatre, we continue our oral history series. We speak to Professor Kathleen Fan, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and professor at King’s College London. Kathy reflects on her career in surgery, sharing practical insight into the path to consultancy. She also explores themes that matter to many of us across the College, from supporting research in training to developing as...

In this month's episode of the Theatre, head and neck surgeon Rafal Niziol, dental surgeon Caroline McCarthy and oncologist Chris Nutting come together to talk about oral cancer.  Together, they give an in-depth overview of the current state of the field, from challenges in diagnosis to opportunities created by new technologies and the importance of improving multidisciplinary collaboration. O...

In this month’s episode of the Theatre, we are excited to be announcing "Stop the Bleed", our ambitious and radical new programme, training the general public to stop traumatic blood haemorrhage. This includes stab wounds from knife crime, cut, and fall wounds and affects every region in the UK. Another key part of "Stop The Bleed" is to provide life-saving kit in spaces such a...

In this episode, our host Ginny Bowbrick (FRCS, RCS England Council Member) is joined by consultants Max Osborne and Lulu Ritchie to discuss how to create a surgical culture that brings the best out of neurodiversity. Together, they make a passionate case that inclusivity is not only beneficial to neurodivergent people, but also fundamental to improving patient care. We are releasing this episode...

To celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month, the Theatre is proud to bring you an interview with Anne Moore, who as the first and so far only woman president of the royal society of neurosurgeons helped pave the way for women in the field. The interview was initially made as part of the Royal College of Surgeon's "Voices of Surgery" project, which seeks t...

In this month’s episode of the Theatre, our host Maria Satchi is joined by Professor Roger Kirby and Mr Ben Ayres to discuss how to drive meaningful change in the NHS. In this discussion, they dive deep into subjects such as national guidelines, the government’s 10 year plan, navigating the NHS bureaucracy and introducing radical technological change that can save lives. With recent polls showing...

Join us as Nuha Yassin sits down with Sue Clark, Terri McVeigh and Frank McDermott to discuss genomics and molecular surgery. Genomics and molecular surgery have the potential to change our approaches to healthcare and surgical practice. These exciting advancements in genomics and molecular surgery are allowing us to better personalise treatments and improve patient outcomes. This includes the use...

In this episode Ibifunke Pegba-Otemolu sits down with Muhammad Haroon Khan and Shahid Khan to discuss their experiences of taking the MRCS examination as overseas participants. Our guests share their personal journeys, highlighting the cultural differences, communication challenges, and nuances they encountered during their exam preparation and taking. This episode aims to provide valuable insight...

In this episode Maria Satchi sits down with Tina Rashid and Tharani Nitkunan to explore surgical leadership, gender bias, motherhood in surgery, and the pursuit of balancing high-pressure careers. For anyone who’s ever wondered if they could lead without losing themselves, this episode offers real stories, honest reflections, and the reassurance that leadership can be both powerful and personal. ...

In this episode, we delve into the real-life experiences of recent surgical trainees who have successfully navigated the MRCS exam. Our guests share their personal journeys, discussing the challenges they faced, the moments of doubt, and the strategies that helped them build resilience and manage anxiety. This episode aims to provide insights and practical advice for UK-based medical graduates pre...

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 dec...

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 Richards Rhiannon Richards is a Yorkshire General Surgical trai...

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. D...

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 als...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 val...

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...

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 conversati...

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 po...

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 Inn...