Emerging Leaders 

As a Specialty Doctor at the University Hospital of Wales and Honorary Clinical Teacher for Cardiff University, I combine my experiences in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery with a passion for education and mentorship. I see it as both a professional duty and a personal commitment to actively support a workplace where every individual, regardless of background, feels valued and supported. 

My leadership journey has led to serving as a Training Programme Director for Dental Core Training. This role has been pivotal in enabling me to enrich the experiences of trainees, developing study day programmes and providing pastoral care that exemplifies a holistic approach to leadership. 

Outside of my professional roles, I have two wonderful young children and regularly navigate the challenges of maintaining a consistent work-life balance.  

I am honoured to be appointed to the RCS Emerging Leaders Programme and look forward to refining my leadership skills to drive positive change, both within the profession and for the patients it serves.  

I am a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Registrar training in the Thames Valley / Wessex Deanery. I am delighted to be part of the 2025 cohort for the Emerging Leaders Programme!

My keen interests align with supporting Women in Surgery as well as Global Health Surgery. Utilising my adaptability and resilience, I am committed to professional growth and creating societal impact. At present I am involved in leadership roles within the BSSH Overseas Trainee Committee and the BFIRST Trainee Committee. 

The Emerging Leaders programme aligns with my aspirations to become an educator, an advocate, and a contributor to the surgical profession. By embarking on the programme, it will help enable me to make a significant impact in surgical education, gender equity in surgery and support a workforce reflective of society.

I have recently started as a consultant Paediatric ENT surgeon at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital having completed my surgical training in the North West with a post-CTT fellowship at Guy's and St Thomas'. I have 2 young children and through my training navigated returning to work after maternity leave and working LTFT. I have previously held roles on the North West mentorship, advise and connection hub and as trainee representative for BAPO launched BAPO Juniors as an educational and support forum.  

I am passionate about creating a culture that empowers students and trainees to aspire to a career in surgery regardless of their background whilst addressing challenges to improve the attrition rate of talented female surgeons.  

I am delighted to be accepted into the Emerging Leaders programme 2025 where I hope working collaboratively with like-minded individuals, we can identify barriers within surgical training and formulate solutions, particularly supporting the surgical work and family life balance. 

I am a ST8 Neurosurgery trainee working full time in London. In the near future, I will be focusing on fellowship applications to develop my subspecialty interest. Outside of work, I spend my time running after my toddler.  

I am thrilled to have been accepted onto the Emerging Leaders Programme. I hope this opportunity will enhance my confidence and empower me to become an effective advocate for change, with the aim to make neurosurgery a more diverse specialty. I believe this programme can help address the high female attrition rates in surgery. I look forward to the opportunities ahead!

I am an NIHR funded Doctoral Research Fellow and ST4 Specialty Trainee in Paediatric Dentistry based in Leeds. I am passionate about the oral health of children with complex medical needs and my research focuses on the prevention of oral mucositis for children and young people during cancer treatment.  

My inspiration for applying to the Emerging Leaders programme came from a desire to learn and network with inspiring colleagues, engage with opportunities at the College, and to develop myself as a transformational leader through the lens of advocacy and inclusion.

I graduated from University of Glasgow in 2013 and then spent a busy period working in Fife, Manchester, London and Liverpool for foundation and core dental training, before beginning an Academic Clinical Fellow Specialist Training in Paediatric Dentistry role in Liverpool in 2017. I successfully completed the M Paed Dent Specialist examinations in 2020 during the pandemic, following the first examination being cancelled! I then completed post-CCST training in London and Liverpool, successfully completing ISFE in 2023 to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.  

During my clinical training, I also had the opportunity to complete a professional doctorate in Paediatric Dentistry – this was on the topic of ‘management of molar incisor hypomineralisation’, primarily focused on how general dentists manage this condition when a child presents to their clinic, and the challenges they face whilst doing so. I also completed a postgraduate certificate in medical education in 2022. 

I was Chair of the Paediatric Dentistry Trainee’s Group from 2022 to 2023, and I am currently the Secretary for the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry Merseyside Branch. I am involved in supervision and pastoral support for NHS trainees, and undergraduate and postgraduate students at University of Liverpool. I hope through involvement in the Emerging Leaders Programme I can develop my skills in leadership to help my team achieve professional goals, and provide opportunities for personal and professional development to current and future trainees and students in Paediatric Dentistry.

I am a recently appointed Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon, and my clinical interests include inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, abdominal wall reconstruction and emergency surgery. I am passionate about surgical training, mentoring, medical education and healthcare leadership.   

I am the Mentorship Lead and Vice-Chair of ACPGBI Early Years Consultant Network Committee. I am a member of ACPGBI Guidelines Committee and a past member of ACPGBI EDI Committee. I was recently elected to RCS England WinS Forum, serving as Deputy Chair.  

I am a passionate advocate for promoting diversity in surgical careers, particularly for women. I strongly believe that enhancing visibility of role models one can relate to is crucial to break down perceived barriers for women to pursue a career in surgery.  

I am delighted to be accepted into the Emerging Leaders programme 2025 – where I look forward to working with brilliantly talented women to affect a positive change inspiring and empowering women to embark upon a career in surgery with a sense of pride and belonging regardless of their background.

I am a Higher General Surgery Trainee originally from London but now based in Glasgow, currently out of programme undertaking an MD in Medical Education. I am planning to subspecialise in Upper GI Surgery. I am honoured and excited to have made it through the selection process to become an Emerging Leader.  

My interest in leadership has stemmed from early in my career, from being involved in extra-curricular activities at Medical School, to being nominated for and winning a leadership award from the South Thames Deanery as an FY1. My Foundation years were when I also found my passion for the speciality, and truly began to consider it as a viable career option, previously never having seen someone like myself becoming a surgeon. I have since gone on to be a Chief Registrar at one of the hospitals I worked at, and have been on committee positions in organisations such as the Alcock Society and Women in Surgery Scotland.  

I am passionate about Surgery being a career for all, regardless of background. My interests lie in post-graduate general surgical training and improving equity for those underrepresented across surgery, but I also enjoy informally helping to create theatres and the specialty as a whole a more welcoming environment for medical students. I am particularly enthused when I have the opportunity to help train and aid more junior members of the team develop in their surgical career, as I would not be where I am today without having had similar support and guidance from many fantastic former and current colleagues.  

In my spare time I enjoy dragging my partner and sausage dog on long walks in the beautiful Scottish countryside, hot yoga, and reading a book with a good glass of wine!

I am a newly appointed substantive Colorectal, General, and Emergency Surgery Consultant at my local hospital: ‘the North Mid’, which has recently become part of Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

I began my medical career at North Middlesex Hospital, where I completed both my work experience at 16 and foundation training. Returning as a consultant feels like a full-circle moment, and I take great pride in shaping healthcare for my local community. 

I graduated from University College London & Royal Free Medical School and have completed a MD at the University of Leicester and higher surgical training in the London deanery. I have undertaken post-CCT fellowships in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery, Transanal surgery and abdominal wall reconstruction. I hold qualifications in leadership, change and project management.  

Throughout my career, I have embraced opportunities to contribute to service development and quality improvement. I am committed to providing safe patient-centred care and fostering collaborative working and innovation in surgery.  I value the importance of authenticity, mentorship and non-technical skills in surgery. 

Beyond surgery, I enjoy reading, video games, science fiction, photography, travelling, yoga, and delving into the science of well-being—interests that help me stay energised and bring balance to my professional life. 

I am excited to join the Emerging Leaders Programme as it provides a unique opportunity to refine my leadership skills, collaborate with like-minded colleagues, promote diversity and learn about the inner workings of the Royal College of Surgeons. I hope to take on a leadership position in our ‘new’ trust to create meaningful and lasting change.

I am a Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and Honorary Consultant Surgeon in Transplantation, Vascular Access and Organ Retrieval, based at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I split my time between clinical duties and my research activity, and wherever possible, I try to align these two passions together. 

My research is primarily funded by the Wellcome Trust and focuses on the roles of human regulatory B cells (Bregs) in both health and disease. Breg have been shown to be protective in solid organ transplantation and autoimmune disease, whilst promoting disease progression in conditions such as infection and cancer. I have developed novel methods to generate human Breg ex vivo, which can prolong transplant survival in clinically relevant humanised mouse models of skin transplantation. We are working towards translating our findings to the clinic, in the form of cellular therapies, novel drug targets and biomarkers. We hope to expand our findings to improve outcomes not only in transplantation, but also in autoimmunity and inflammation. 

Having been appointed in 2023, I recognise the challenges that many of us face in establishing independent clinical and research careers. I am really looking forward to developing different skills whilst making the most of the opportunities presented in the Emerging Leaders Programme. Female surgeons remain underrepresented in leadership. It can sometimes be challenging to be the outlier in the room and even more so to try and do something about that. I appreciate change will not occur unless we step up and forward. 

I am currently in the last stages of my PhD looking at a minimally invasive way of addressing dental caries in young children, focussing on implementation in primary care. I am passionate about addressing inequalities and improving minimally invasive, successful dental care for children. I completed my pre-CCST training in paediatric dentistry, and I am now completing my post CCST training while looking to further develop myself as a researcher, hopefully to become a leading clinical academic in the future. I have had the advantage of having many supportive colleagues and leaders over my career, and I aim to help support and develop others in the same way. I hope the emerging leaders programme will help me develop further with principles of inclusive and compassionate leadership so I can create an environment for other people to develop and meet their potential.

I am a consultant in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Following my specialist training in the North-West, I have completed two multipdisciplinary fellowships in Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstruction (TIG, Newcastle-upon-Tyne) and Craniofacial surgery (Birmingham Children's Hospital). I have a specialist interest in skin oncology, head and neck resection and reconstruction and facial palsy, as well as being a part of the orthoplastic team for limb reconstruction at Birmingham's adult Major Trauma Centre.  
 
I am honored to have been selected as an emerging leader and I look forward to working closely with both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and my cohort peers, to harvest the opportunities this program offers. I have been interested in personal development and leadership for many years and have completed formal training in medical education, coaching and mentoring. These have fed into my commitment to holistic healthcare and wellbeing. I feel strongly about improving the culture of surgery for our patients and future workforce. I recognise that senior supervision and mentorship can be vital for trainees suffering from training challenges, interpersonal difficulties and burnout.  
 
Through the emerging leaders programme I would like to develop my leadership skills, to positively impact my role in surgical training. I look forward to contributing to national initiatives and hope to develop to work collaboratively to develop operative educational resources.

As a dedicated Specialty Doctor in General Surgery at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, I am honored to be selected for the Emerging Leaders Programme by the Royal College of Surgeons. Leading the "Green Surgery Project," I am committed to minimizing the environmental impact of surgical practices, aligning with the Royal College of Surgeons England’s "Sustainability in Surgery Strategy." 

Fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment, I bring together a diverse team to address waste generation and energy consumption in surgical practices at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. The Green Surgery Project focuses on innovative solutions, aspiring to serve as a model for sustainable surgical practices. 

In addition to my role, I serve as the BMA LNC representative for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, actively engaging in leadership and advocacy within the medical community. Furthermore, I lead the IMG project in my trust, contributing to the integration and support of internationally trained medical professionals. 

As a working mother and an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and excellence in surgical care, leading the Green Surgery project highlights how diversity enhances problem-solving and innovation. 

I applied for the Emerging Leaders Programme because it aligns perfectly with my aspirations and commitment to advancing surgical practices and healthcare. This program offers structured training, mentorship opportunities, and valuable resources that will enhance my leadership abilities. I am eager to contribute to the collaborative spirit of the program, further promoting diversity and inclusion within the surgical profession. Participating in the Emerging Leaders Programme is a significant step in my journey, providing the necessary tools and knowledge to make a lasting impact in the field. I believe that through this program, I can contribute to shaping the future of surgical practices, fostering innovation, and advocating for excellence in patient care. 

Senior Clinical Lecturer in Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery/Honorary Specialty Dentist in Oral Surgery

After graduating as a Dental Surgeon in 2000 from the University of Liverpool, I completed 2 years of General Professional Training split between General Dental Practice and Hospital Dentistry. In 2002 I completed my membership exams for the Royal College of Surgeons (MFDS RCS Eng). 

Following this I worked for 2 years as an on-call Oral and Maxillofacial SHO. I progressed to become a Staff Grade and followed this with my current University teaching role in Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery. In this role I have gained a teaching certificate and a Certificate in Conscious Sedation. I completed the Membership in Surgical Dentistry examination in 2011 (MSurg Dent RCS Eng) and gained entry onto the specialist list in Oral Surgery. 

I was recently awarded Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In addition to my teaching and clinical roles I am involved in Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing, Athena SWAN, Widening Participation and student support.

I am a consultant ENT surgeon with a specialist interest in paediatric patients. I am passionate about supporting woman in surgery. I was President of Women in ENT Surgery UK (WENTS), 2018-2021 and am now part of the organising team of the WENTS Mentoring Scheme. I am Mum to an amazing feisty 4 year old. 

I am delighted to be accepted into the Emerging Leaders programme 2024 – where I look forward to being a cheerleader for like-minded people and to be supported by them in return. I hope to be exposed to the regional and national opportunities in leadership, to learn the skills to navigate leadership roles and affect change, particularly supporting surgeons around family life.  

I am an ST8 in Plastic Surgery in the London Deanery and am due to start my microsurgical fellowship at Guy’s and St Thomas’ following completion of training later this year. I have 3 young children and have navigated the challenges of returning to training after parental leave and working LTFT. 
 
The attrition rate of talented female surgeons over the course of their careers is a huge loss to our profession and our patients. I hope that through the Emerging Leaders programme I can work collaboratively with women from other specialities, to identify themes and attempt to formulate solutions to improve retention.  
 
I believe our generation of surgeons has a duty to leave the culture of training in surgery better than when we entered it. We are fortunate for the inspirational women that have gone before us, and have a responsibility to those that follow us. 

Katie is an ST6 Plastic Surgery Registrar training in the West Midlands. She is passionate about improving equal access to good surgical care for all people and the importance of global collaboration and sustainability in achieving this. 

She stood as President of BFIRST Trainees from 2022 to 2023 and currently is a member of the FESSH Green Surgery Subcommittee. She is currently enjoying maternity leave. 

I am a Neurosurgery Senior Clinical Fellow, currently based at Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to this, I have garnered professional experience working in various NHS trusts in the United Kingdom and India.  

Delighted to be chosen for the Royal College of Surgeons' Emerging Leaders program, my enthusiasm stems from a deep commitment to advancing diversity and inclusivity both in the field of surgery and on a global scale beyond clinical settings. 

As a Morbidity and Mortality lead Registrar, I have cultivated transparent communication, fostered a positive work culture, and solidified my dedication to excellence by spearheading the Greatix Initiative in Neurosurgery, which received positive feedback. 

Globally, I directed award-winning Health and Environment documentaries in India and New Zealand, initiated health programs in underserved communities, and demonstrated commitment to public health through Cancer Charity work and television health awareness programs. 

Dedicated to improving patient care through quality enhancement initiatives, I have also fulfilled roles as a Trainer/Course Coordinator for RCS Surgical Skill courses and as a Mentor for Medical students. Additionally, I have actively participated in Government initiatives such as 'Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child' in India, showcasing my commitment to community welfare. 

Through this program, I am excited to contribute to the advancement of inclusive surgical leadership through collaborative learning and knowledge-sharing. Being chosen for the program, I anticipate broadening surgical representation, connecting with female surgeons, and playing a key role in advocating global diversity in surgery and neurosurgery. Fuelled by a passion for challenging biases, my goal is to reshape healthcare leadership to embrace diversity wholeheartedly. Keen to learn from peers and actively contribute to the development of inclusive healthcare policies, I eagerly await the transformative experience within the Royal College of Surgeons community. 

I am a Senior Clinical Fellow in Plastic Surgery, and I joined the RCSEng Emerging Leaders Programme during my Core Surgical Training. Although I am in the early stages of my career, I have believed that every doctor is an innate leader, with a responsibility to drive positive change and make a lasting impact.

My passion for enhancing surgical training led me to join the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), where I began as the Wessex Regional Representative in August 2023. Just nine months later, I was honoured to be elected to the ASiT Executive Committee. In this role, I am committed to fostering transparency, amplifying trainee voices, and championing diversity and inclusion within surgical training.

Being selected for the RCSEng Emerging Leaders Programme has been an incredible privilege, strengthening my commitment to addressing the ‘leaky pipeline’ and the challenges faced by women and all trainees in surgery. My ultimate vision is to build an inclusive, supportive, and equitable surgical community — one that empowers trainees to thrive and, in turn, inspire and mentor the next generation as future consultants.

I am an ST7 in Breast Surgery in the NE&C London Deanery. My leadership experience so far has centred around teaching, and mentoring juniors. 
 
At this stage in my career, I am aiming to understand different roles within the NHS and Royal College of Surgeons, as well as transition into an approachable and empathetic Consultant, who values dynamic leadership and training. 
 
I believe the Emerging Leadership Programme will help me to achieve this, as well as reinforce my own leadership style, and engage more actively with like-minded peers.

I am a recently appointed substantive Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Consultant in London.
I completed my higher surgical training in the London deanery where I spent the last two years of my training at St Bartholomew’s hospital and the Royal London Hospital.  Following this I pursued an oncoplastic Breast surgery fellowship in Brazil.  I have a Masters in Medical Education and am passionate about surgical training. 

I have completed the Surgical Leadership Program at Harvard Medical School on a scholarship and graduated with a distinction.  It was a course that changed me profoundly and was the impetus to apply to this programme.  

As an Emerging Leader, I look forward to creating a culture that empowers medical students and junior doctors to aspire to a career in surgery regardless of their background. 

Denise Osei-Kuffour is a ST6 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Registrar in the London Deanery and is excited to be part of the RCS Emerging Leaders cohort for 2024.  

She graduated from Imperial College London in 2015 with a BSc in Surgery and Anaesthesia and Merits in Medicine and Surgery. She has undertaken a number of leadership roles within her undergraduate and postgraduate training - more recently as Vice-Chair of the BSSH Global Partnership Trainee Committee and co-PrincipaI Investigator for an international collaborative research project.  

She is keen to further her skills as a leader, teacher and mentor to others. She hopes to take an active part in driving change, promoting diversity and supporting junior trainees in their ambitions to become surgeons. She is already inspired by the array of surgical female role models that make up the RCS network. Her future interests include medical education, research and global surgery. 

Her outside interests include pilates, singing, art and photography.

Abi qualified from University of Cambridge in 2004 and completed higher surgical training in the West Midlands Deanery in 2019. She was appointed as consultant colorectal surgeon with a specialist interest in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 2020 at University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. 

She is a co-founder and chair of MidOx IBD network which brings together multidisciplinary teams to help develop clinical services, teaching and research in IBD. She is a NIHR CRN Research Scholar and is actively involved in clinical research both as a principal and chief investigator. She is the vice chair of ACPGBI EYCN and sits on the ACPGBI External Affairs Committee. She remains passionate about mentoring and supporting trainees as well as early years consultants. 

In her spare time, Abi enjoys yoga, reading, photography and travelling with her family.

Ms. Maria Satchi is Consultant Urological Surgeon and Andrologist at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Following her speciality training in Urology, she completed a competitive andrology fellowship at the world-renowned Institute of Andrology at University College London Hospital. She has previously established and led a regional andrology and male fertility service for the Kent region introducing microsurgical and reconstructive procedures. She currently provides a specialist andrology service as part of the South East London Urology Network.  

She is an elected member of the Andrology committee for the British Association of Urological Surgeons, the andrology special interest group of the British Fertility Society and works closely with leading fertility charities, campaigning for patient support groups and dissemination of patient information.