Innovating surgeon wins NHS70 Parliamentary Award

Shafi Ahmed uses Google Glass during a live surgical procedure

Nominated by Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Professor Ahmed was announced as the countrywide winner of the NHS England Future NHS Award category at a special ceremony in the Palace of Westminster today - the day before the NHS’s 70th birthday.

Mr Ahmed was among ten winners – selected from more than 750 nominations submitted by over 250 MPs – to receive their awards at a ceremony on the Palace of Westminster’s Terrace Pavilion, hosted by Dr Sara Kayat, NHS GP & TV Doctor.

Professor Shafi Ahmed, Lecturer in Surgery at Barts and The London and Consultant General, Laparoscopic and Colorectal Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust said: “It is humbling to be chosen as the winner in the Future NHS Award category of the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards. Technology and innovation will undoubtedly help solve some of the problems within any health system and will ultimately make healthcare and medical education more affordable, accessible and equitable around the world.”

'The virtual surgeon'

Dubbed 'the virtual surgeon', Professor Shafi Ahmed has pioneered the use of technology during surgery. In 2014 he was the first surgeon to use Google Glass to aid the learning of surgical students by transporting 13,000 people from 115 countries directly into the operating theatre at The Royal London Hospital. The students were able to type questions as they watched from Professor Ahmed’s point of view, and their queries appeared on his Google Glasses so he could answer them verbally to all viewers as he operated.

While trainee physicians have traditionally had to settle for looking over the shoulder of a surgeon, his use of technology has advanced learning by enabling students at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and beyond to position themselves anywhere and view operations from all angles.

Barts and The London was also the first medical school in the world to embed innovation and entrepreneurship into the curriculum under Professor Ahmed’s leadership, through the introduction of the Barts X Medicine programme.

First medical school to embed innovation into curriculum

Professor Steve Thornton, Vice Principal (Health) at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, said: “We are incredibly proud that Shafi Ahmed’s contributions have been recognised with such a high profile award. Through his introduction of new technology, we’ve been able to push the boundaries of medical education by offering unprecedented views of live surgical procedures, and embed innovation and entrepreneurship into our curriculum.”

Alwen Williams, Chief Executive of Barts Health NHS Trust said: "It is wonderful that Professor Ahmed's dedication to advancing the quality and safety of healthcare has been recognised on a national scale. He is a highly valued member of our world-renowned surgical team at The Royal London Hospital. I am proud of all he has accomplished in embracing technology to lead the way for the NHS."

Professor Ahmed has also live-streamed an operation around the world using virtual reality technology to 55,000 live viewers, designed to give viewers the feeling that they are in the operating theatre. He has undertaken similar initiatives using Snapchat Spectacles which has been seen by over 2 million people.

Dr Neil Churchill OBE, Director for Experience, Participation & Equalities at NHS England, said: “Professor Ahmed is a great example of the kind of pioneer that the NHS has fostered throughout its 70 years, benefiting both patients here and millions of others around the world. By using the power of technology to make contact and share his skills with countless more colleagues and students than could otherwise have been possible, he has personified the reach, inclusivity and innovation of the future NHS and so is a very deserving recipient of this award.”

More information

• Study Medicine MBBS at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, including on our Malta programme.
• NHS70: Find out more about how we work in partnership with the NHS through education and research.