Director - Mr. Aishan Patil - MBChB University of Glasgow, MRCS Royal College of Surgeons of England, F.MAS D.MAS World Laparoscopy Hospital
Aishan is a Vascular Surgery trainee based in Scotland, United Kingdom. He entered medical training in the United Kingdom through the European-entry route, having qualified from the Irish Leaving Certificate in 2013. He graduated in 2018 with an MBChB from the University of Glasgow. During his undergraduate training, he developed a keen interest in surgery and undertook additional surgical attachments across the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Germany, in areas such as Colorectal Surgery (Glasgow Royal Infirmary), General Surgery / Interventional Radiology (St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin), Emergency General Surgery (Royal Alexandra Hospital Paisley), E.N.T. / Cochlear Implant (Beaumont Hospital Dublin) and Urology / Renal Transplant (Universitäts Klinikum Heidelberg).
Aishan completed his Foundation Year training in Wales, United Kingdom, where he worked for 12 months in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Rhyl (Colorectal / General Surgery, Paediatrics / Neonatology and Interventional Cardiology) and 12 months in the Royal Gwent Hospital Newport and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Ystrad Mynach (E.N.T. / Head & Neck Surgery, Urology / Uro-Oncology and COVID-19 / Emergency Frailty). In 2020, he enrolled in the Improving Surgical Training Programme in the East of Scotland, where he spent 24 months working in Ninewells Hospital Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary, Queen Margaret Hospital Dunfermline, Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy, Stracathro Hospital Brechin and St. Andrew’s Community Hospital (H.P.B. / General Surgery, Breast Oncoplastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Vascular / Endovascular Surgery), completing MRCS with the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He then spent an additional 6 months working in Borders General Hospital Melrose (Benign Upper G.I. / Colorectal / Breast / Trauma / General Surgery) and 1 month working in Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast and Belfast City Hospital (Vascular Surgery, Renal Transplant Surgery). In 2023, he completed the Integrated Fellowship / Diploma in Minimal Access Surgery in the World Laparoscopy Hospital Delhi. After spending 3 months working in Manchester, at Wythenshawe Hospital (General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery) and at Christie Hospital (Gynaecology / Peritoneal Oncology, Robotic Surgery), he took up an ST3 post in Colorectal / Upper G.I. / Rural & General Surgery at Raigmore Hospital Inverness, where he currently works.
Aishan is passionate about teaching and has demonstrated his commitment to medical education. In 2016-17, during his undergraduate years, he co-founded and served as the first President of the University of Glasgow E.N.T. Society (UGENTS), which subsequently held numerous National-Level training events and became an affiliate society of the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA). In 2018, he completed the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow’s Clinical Trainer Development course. In 2020, he served as a faculty member of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s Masters in Surgical Science and Practice Teaching. Most recently, he was a faculty member of Doctors Academy’s MRCS OSCE Course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Cardiff and an served as an administrator for the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) Transplant Surgery's European Board of Surgical Qualification (ESBQ) Preparatory Course and Fellowship Examination. He is endorsed as a trainer by the Royal College of Surgeons of England for Basic Surgical Skills and is a faculty member on the Scottish Surgical Bootcamps.
Aishan has extensive experience in National Training Programme entry, having successfully applied and interviewed for programmes in General Surgery (North Wales, Greater Glasgow, North East England), Vascular Surgery (East of Scotland), Plastic Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Northern Ireland).
Executive Adviser - Mr. Soorya Siva - MBChB, Honorary Clinical Lecturer University of Glasgow, MRCS, Trainees’ Committee Member Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Member of British Orthopaedic Association
Soorya is a Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery trainee currently working in the West of Scotland, United Kingdom. He obtained his MBChB from the University of Glasgow in 2017, entering undergraduate training through the English GCE Advanced Level qualifications. During his time as a student, he co-founded and became a tutor of the University of Glasgow E.N.T. Society (UGENTS), which evolved into a National-Level undergraduate training society and the 100th affiliated society of the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA).
Soorya continued his Foundation Year training in Scotland, working for 12 months at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow (Vascular / General Surgery and Cardiology / Internal Medicine), 8 months at University Hospital Ayr (Stroke / Care-of-the-Elderly Medicine and Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery), and 4 months at Crookston Medical Centre Glasgow (General Practice). During this time, he completed MRCS with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He then spent 12 months in Australia, undertaking additional clinical training at Wyong Hospital New South Wales (Emergency Medicine, Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery), before returning to Scotland in 2020 to enter Core Surgical Training. He worked for 24 months at Inverclyde Royal Hospital Greenock, Belford Hospital Fort William, and University Hospital Wishaw (Rural / General Surgery, Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery). After successfully interviewing for ST3-level training in Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery, he has spent the past 8 months working in Hip / Knee / General Trauma Surgery, with placements at University Hospital Crosshouse Kilmarnock, University Hospital Ayr, and most recently, Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary.
Soorya has a strong interest in academia, advancing clinical practice, and teaching. He has authored multiple original publications and received prizes for quality improvement projects while working at Inverclyde Royal Hospital Greenock. In Australia, he served as the Projects Officer of the Safety and Quality Committee of Central Coast Local Health District. He holds the positions of Honorary Clinical Lecturer and MBChB final-year OSCE examiner at the University of Glasgow. Previously, while working at University Hospital Wishaw in 2021, he was a Clinical Educator and Representative for Foundation Year, Broad-Based, and General Practice Training. Soorya has also served as Trainee Representative for Core and Specialty Training and as Junior Trainee Representative for Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery in the West of Scotland. Currently, he is a Trainees’ Committee Member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Additionally, he is pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) in Medical and Healthcare Education at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.
Having completed both Core Surgical Training and Trauma & Orthopaedic Higher Surgical Training through the National Training Programme at VITASPARK Limited, Soorya can provide valuable advice on portfolio optimization, career guidance, and general counseling/mentoring for surgeons aspiring to enter training at both post-Foundation Year and post-Core Surgical Training levels.
Executive Adviser - Dr. Sameh Abdelwahab - MBChB Mansoura University, Honorary Clinical Lecturer University of Dundee
Sameh is a General Surgeon currently practicing in the East of Scotland, United Kingdom. As an International Medical Graduate (IMG), he completed his MBChB at Mansoura University in Egypt in 2018, where he developed a strong interest in the field of surgery. During his medical training, he undertook clinical attachments in various countries including Egypt, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. These attachments involved Emergency General Surgery / Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery (Mansoura University Hospitals), Neurosurgery (Royal Preston Hospital), and General Surgery (Dubai Hospital).
Following his medical internship in Mansoura, Sameh worked in different specialties including General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthetics, Accident & Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Paediatrics. He then successfully entered the Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery training programme in Mansoura. In 2020, Sameh relocated to the United Kingdom and joined the National Health Service. He secured a 6-month post in Vascular / Endovascular Surgery and a 12-month post in Intensive Care Medicine at the prestigious Ninewells Hospital Dundee, known for its pioneering laparoscopic surgery. He has since worked in the General Surgery department, gaining experience in Upper G.I., H.P.B., Colorectal, Endocrine, and Breast surgery. Additionally, he has worked at Perth Royal Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital Brechin.
Apart from his surgical career, Sameh is a passionate trainer and motivator. During his undergraduate years, he served as the President of his University's Student Union, where he encouraged students to take on leadership roles. He also coordinated undergraduate OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations). Sameh held a teaching position for fellow IMGs preparing for the General Medical Council's Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) examinations. Currently, he holds an Honorary Clinical Lecturer role and serves as an undergraduate OSCE examiner at the University of Dundee.
Adviser - Miss Danielle Britton – MBBS University of Newcastle, MRCS Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Danielle is a surgical trainee based in the North East of the United Kingdom. She began her training through the English GCE Advanced Level route in 2012 and earned her MBBS from the University of Newcastle in 2017. During her undergraduate years, she also obtained a Diploma of Medical Studies from the University of Durham. Danielle served as the Treasurer of the Surgical Society for one year during this time and demonstrated a strong interest in pursuing Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), engaging early with the European Association of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.
Following her undergraduate training, Danielle completed her Foundation Year training in Yorkshire, United Kingdom, where she worked in Plastic Surgery, Accident & Emergency Medicine and Stroke Medicine (Leeds General Infirmary), and General Surgery, Haematology and Psychiatry (Pinderfields Hospital Wakefield). In 2019, she entered OMFS-themed Core Surgical Training in Wales, United Kingdom. She spent 6 months working in E.N.T./Head & Neck Surgery at the Royal Gwent Hospital Newport, followed by 18 months working in OMFS between Royal Gwent Hospital and University Hospital of Wales Cardiff. In 2020, Danielle successfully completed MRCS with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. She actively engaged with the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, holding positions such as Yorkshire and Humber Representative for the Junior Trainee Group in 2018-2019, Wales Representative for the Junior Trainee Group in 2019-2020, and eventually becoming the Chair of the Junior Trainee Group in 2022-2023. Since 2021, Danielle has returned to the University of Newcastle to pursue Dental Surgery training.
In addition to her training achievements, Danielle has undergone further training in Head and Neck Dissection, Maxillofacial Trauma, Facial Skeleton Fracture Management, and Basic Microsurgical Skills. She has also contributed to the academic field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery through presentations at both National and International conferences, as well as being a first-author in published works. Included in her educating capacity, she has introduced a Handbook for OMFS Core Trainees and organized a national-level Symposium on "Getting into Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery" as part of "The Surgical Interview" in 2019. In 2022, Danielle organized and delivered the "OMFS Survival Guide - MRCS Series," a national-level online teaching program.
At VITASPARK Limited, Danielle can guide those seeking to enter Core Surgical Training and achieve their goals in this period. Additionally, with her proven-dedication and experience in the field, Danielle is our obvious recommendation for individuals aspiring to pursue a career in Oral and Maxillofacial Training.
Adviser - Mr. Shaneel Shah – BSc, MBChB University of Bristol, MRCS Royal College of Surgeons of England
Shaneel is a General Surgery trainee currently based in North West England, United Kingdom. Originally from Australia, he graduated from the University of Bristol in 2019, obtaining his MBChB along with a BSc with First Class Honours in Pharmacology. His passion for surgery developed during his undergraduate training, where he co-founded and served as President of the Bristol Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery (BSCTS).
Following his graduation, Shaneel completed his Foundation Year training in Wales, United Kingdom. He spent 24 months working at Glangwili General Hospital Carmarthen (E.N.T., Obstetrics & Gynaecology), Prince Philip Hospital Llanelli (Gastroenterology), and Princess of Wales Hospital Bridgend (Upper G.I./General Surgery, COVID-19/General Medicine). In 2021, he entered the Run-Through General Surgery Improving Surgical Training Programme in North West England, achieving a position in the top 10% of all Core Surgical Training Applicants Nationally.
During his Core Surgical Training, Shaneel gained experience at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (Emergency General Surgery, Vascular Surgery). Currently, he is working at Wythenshawe Hospital Manchester, specialising in Colorectal/General Surgery. In 2022, he successfully completed MRCS examinations with the Royal College of Surgeons of England. His interest in Audit/Quality Improvement (Q.I.) and Research has grown over time, leading him to present several projects both nationally and internationally, and to publish various articles. In 2019, he served as the Editor and Peer Reviewer for the INSPIRE Health Sciences Research Journal. Furthermore, he holds the position of Secretary for the North West Breast Research Collaborative and has future plans to pursue a PhD to advance his academic pursuits.
Shaneel's dedication to education and training has been longstanding. In 2020, he completed Health Education England's Educator Training Resources e-learning and Oxford Medical Training's Teach the Teacher Course. In 2022, he served as the MRCS Part A Lead for the online Cutting to the Core lecture series. More recently, he acted as a faculty member and tutor for Doctors Academy's MRCS OSCE Course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Cardiff. He is also a contributor to TeachMeSurgery's Question Bank.
At VITASPARK Limited, Shaneel provides invaluable guidance to aspiring Core Surgical Training and Higher Surgical Training candidates in the field of General Surgery. He is also available to support trainees who are interested in pursuing an academic career.
Honorary Adviser – Prof. Vassilios Papalois – MD National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Knights of Justice, Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem (KJSJ, England), PhD Imperial College London, FICS International College of Surgeons, FRCS, FEBS (European Board of Surgery), President UEMS, Honorary President UEMS Division of Transplant Surgery
Professor Papalois is a Consultant in Transplant and General Surgery, working at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, United Kingdom. He spearheads a renowned programme, with focus on high-risk and extended-criteria kidney and pancreas transplantation. Notably, he pioneered living donor kidney transplantation in the United Kingdom, encompassing paired and pooled, as well as altruistic transplants. His contributions also extend to kidney donation after cardiac death and the utilization of hypothermic machine perfusion for meticulous organ assessment and reconditioning before transplantation.
With an enduring presence in surgical research for over three decades, Prof. Papalois boasts a publication portfolio exceeding 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals, garnering more than 600 annual citations on the international stage. He has authored 22 book chapters and 8 books. He is Editor-in-Chief of the World Journal of Transplantation (WJT), and is associated with the editorial boards of 11 international peer-reviewed journals. His research underscores pre-transplant assessment and reconditioning of marginal kidney and pancreas grafts, as well as the application of stem cells for treating chronically scarred allografts. He has delivered keynote addresses at over 200 national and international congresses. Furthermore, his expertise spans surgical education, clinical ethics, medico-legal challenges, and health policy.
Prof. Papalois currently serves as the President of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), is the Past-President of the European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) and is President-Elect of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI). Additionally, he is a Council Member of the European Society of Surgery (ESS), and holds advisory roles at the General Medical Council (GMC) and the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Prof. Papalois has received a Silver National Award for Clinical Excellence from the UK Department of Health, a Senior Clinical Investigator Award from the European Society of Organ Transplantation, and a Teaching Excellence Award from Imperial College. He holds an Honorary Doctorate and Chair from the University of Thessaloniki and is an Honorary Member of the Spanish Association of Surgeons and the Spanish Transplantation Society. He is Deputy President of the Onassis Cardiothoracic Centre and co-chairs the Committee for the National Transplant Plan and Centre in Greece, and also serves as the Patron of the West London Kidney Patients Association. Beyond medicine, he chairs the Ethics Committee of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary and serves as Vice-Chair of the Research Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Defence.
Honorary Adviser - Prof. Naishadh Patil – MBBS, MS University of Mumbai, MD University of Würzburg DO-HNS, FRCS Otolaryngology Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Honorary Professor National University of Ireland Galway, Associate Professor Maastricht University
Professor Patil is a Consultant in Otolaryngology, working at Saolta University Health Care Group in Ireland. He graduated with an MBBS degree and obtained his Master of Surgery in Otolaryngology from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital / Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College of the University of Mumbai, India. Prof. Patil furthered his surgical training in Germany, working at Tübingen University Hospital and University Hospital Würzburg, where he earned a postgraduate Doctor of Medicine degree. He then returned to India and held an Honorary Consultant post at Inlaks General Hospital in Mumbai, followed by three years working in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Prof. Patil obtained his Diploma in Otolaryngology and FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh while working at University Hospital Galway, Ireland. Since becoming a Consultant in 2003, he has worked at both Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital in the West of Ireland.
Prof. Patil is highly regarded as a trainer and has held prestigious positions such as President of the Irish Institute of ORL-HNS and the Irish Otolaryngology Society. He has also been an editorial member of ENT & Audiology News since 1995. Additionally, he has served as the International Surgical Ambassador for Ireland to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and as the International Medical Organisation representative for Ireland to the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Prof. Patil previously held the role of Training Programme Director for basic surgical training in Otolaryngology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is an Honorary Professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and an Associate Professor at Maastricht University, Netherlands.