London, England, United Kingdom
Developed Kidney transplants in Saudi Arabia Head of Nutrition Support Service at Riyadh Military Hospital Devised the Major Disaster Response Plan for the King Khaled International Airport, Riyadh Innovative Clinical Research into futility in Intensive Care Developed and wrote four medical software applications. Scripted and directed three educational videos Taught the first group of women doctors to gradaute in Saudi Arabia. Established brand new kidney transplant unit at St George's Hospital, London in 1994. Had to justify existence as all other units established more than 25 years ago. Thus: First transplant surgery training programme in London First large animal experiments in transplants in London First Public Audit of Transplantation in the UK First ethically approved non-heart beating donor unit in London First unit to have regular Annual Reviews First UK unit to use tacrolimus and low dose steroids to achieve 100% graft and patient survivals at 1 year. Among top 5 units in the UK for transplant outcomes for several years Only unit in UK to have a hands assisted retroperitoneal approach laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Specialties: Health care organisations, Medical software design medical research and teaching.
Since my retirement from St George's Hospital, I have devoted my time to three projects that I have always wanted to do but did not have the time:- Thus I have completed the memoirs of my time in Saudi Arabia - "Scalpel in the Sand" The Health Education Board Game - "LifeStyles" which has been trade marked. I am also heading the Aspiration Series of books for children to increase social mobility. Readers may find more information on all three on the web-site: http://usefulandfunthings.com. There is also a blog at http://scalpelinthesand.wordpress.com. I also feature on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I have recently started researching ad writing the political novel "Operation Deep Throat" which will coincide with the 40th anniversary of Nixon'x visit to China next year. As it is a political thriller, I will have to keep the plot a secret except to ask the teaser questions: "Was Watergate a set-up or a cock-up?". What was Deep Throat's motivation? I hope to keep my grey-cells alive and well and improve my finances by working full time on these projects.
I was appointed Director of Transplantation to establish a brand new unit at St George's Hospital, Tooting, London. I was at that time, the Transplant Surgeon at St Helier, the hospital that has been doing transplants in SW London since the mid 1970s. It was politically a very tough assignment. Eventually I was able to establish a new centre and brought in some innovative ideas to justify the nw unit - such as the first public audit of transplants in the UK, and the Annual Review with a free bash for all staff at the Savoy in London. The first training programme for tansplant surgeons in London was also established as was the first large animal research facility to do transplant research. The South London Non-heartbeating donor programme was revived with proper ethical approval and support from the local coroner. A pulsatile machine preservation programme was establsihed. Mr Fronek was recruited from Prague to start the laparoscopic living donor programme which increased the number of living donor transplants from 11 a year to 69 last year (2010) out of a total of 101 transplants. The living donor transplant programme has been a great success. A local surgeon has also been trained in the technique of retroperitoneal approach to laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. The 2nd HARS symposium was organised last year which was attended by surgeons from all over Europe including Professor Waldstrom who developed the technique. There were two live video feeds of laprascopic donor nephrectomy for the day. The living donor programme represents one of the towering achievements of the unit at St George's for whoch we are extremely grateful to our most talented and skilled surgeon - Mr Jiri Fronek. Sadly he is soon to leave to be the Director of the Transplant Centre in Prague. We wish him all the best and hope that a strong bond between the two unit may be established.