Post by Jahnavi Singh

Last month, I had the privilege of hosting the UCL Transplant Surgery Symposium 2026, our flagship national event, bringing together expert speakers, patients, and 100+ delegates from medical schools across the UK and beyond for an inspiring day of learning, discussion, and collaboration. 💫 This year’s theme, “Transformative Milestones: Breakthroughs Defining the Future of Transplant Surgery,” aimed to highlight the breadth of opportunity, discovery, innovation and impact within Transplant Surgery & Medicine. To deliver on this, we were honoured to welcome some of the foremost minds in the field for a series of talks and panels, including: 🌟 Professor Nizam Mamode (keynote address) - Kidney transplant surgeon who utilised 3D printing to plan a transplant from a father to his 2-year-old daughter and pioneered UK’s first robotic kidney transplant, as well as working as a humanitarian surgeon in Gaza.
🌟 Professor Richard Smith & Miss Isabel Quiroga: Led the UK’s first uterus transplant through their charity programme, resulting in the birth of a baby girl last year.
🌟 Professor Nadey Hakim: Internationally renowned transplant surgeon behind multiple surgical firsts, including finger-assisted kidney transplantation and participation in the world’s first hand and double arm transplant.
🌟 Professor Joerg-Matthias Pollok: Head of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation at the Royal Free Hospital, with interests in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
🌟 Mrs MARÍA MONTEAGUDO-VELA(MD. PhD): Consultant Cardiothoracic & Transplant Surgeon at Harefield Hospital and Spanish National Surgical Lead for the Cardiogenic Shock Programme.
🌟 Dr Oliver Tavabie: Consultant Hepatologist at the Liver Unit at St James’ University Hospital, with research interests in liver failure and transplantation. We also heard from donors and recipients alike through our unique Patient Perspective Panel, where they shared their experiences of transplantation and involvement in the British Transplant Games. This event was the culmination of months of planning and passion to carefully curate such a programme, and I am incredibly grateful to all our speakers and attendees, as well as my amazing team who helped deliver this for a second year running. I also wanted to thank my friends Devanandh Murugesan for volunteering as our photographer to capture the magic of the day, as well as our President, Fahm Deen, PhD, who’s invaluable guidance, tireless work ethic, and genuine investment in the running of our event has been instrumental to its success. I am very grateful to have served on committee for 3 years, specifically as Transplant Surgery Chair for the last two, establishing the current subdivision as a strong part of the UCL Surgical Society community. I look forward to seeing where this ever-growing and thriving community of inspiring individuals leads next!🤩