The Gift of Adversity: A Surgeon’s Journey

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: [email protected]· 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 [email protected]

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]

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.