UHNM consultant awarded honorary professorship from Keele University

A consultant head and neck surgeon from UHNM has been awarded an honorary professorship from Keele University. 
 
Professor Ajith George has been awarded Honorary Chair of Surgery and Surgical Education and Anatomy in recognition of a decade’s work with the University’s Anatomy and Surgical Training Centre. 
 
During that time Professor George has helped to develop the Centre’s courses, facilities, and reputation both nationally and internationally. 
 
Professor George said: “The role of Chair has been a natural and organic progression over ten years. 
 
“I worked with an inspirational surgeon whilst in Australia, who had amazing anatomical knowledge, so when I started back in Stoke-on-Trent I would go to the laboratory at Keele University and learn about anatomy by using the specimens and dissecting. This really helped me, and as a result of that, I consequently got more and more involved with the work of the University. They offered me an official title as a lecturer to run the post graduate laboratory with the anatomy team, to try and improve engagement in postgraduate surgery as opposed to undergraduate medical students. 
 
“This has since built up to the point where the University now has an allocation of funding from Health Education England’s School of Surgery for the West Midlands to run courses for all its 11 surgical specialities. As part of these courses, we’ve come up with new ways of learning, including mixed and extended reality and 3D programmes. This has also allowed undergraduates being able to do what’s known as an intercalated degree, where they take one year out to complete a BSc, and can choose anatomy as a topic. Another piece of work has been developing new knowledge on minimal-access surgery, offering courses and virtual learning not only locally, but nationally and internationally.” 
 
Professor George, who has been a surgeon at UHNM for 10 years, is able to split his time between his clinical commitments and role as a lecturer. 
 
He said: “Anatomy is an area of interest I’ve developed and is strongly related to surgery for obvious reasons. It’s a really good subject to teach trainee surgeons because you can make it relatable, once you see an operation and relate it back to the anatomy, you’ll never forget it. 
 
“The basis of the application for the Chair was by demonstrating the creation of new knowledge and democratisation of it and improving the University’s reputation globally. As I went from lecturer to senior lecturer, the Anatomy Department at Keele were really supportive and wanted me to apply for the Chair. The application process was around two years, and was fortunate enough the University agreed and stated my work is worthy to be recognised. 
 
“It adds more responsibility, because now you must live up to the reputation. It’s more than a title; it gives you that ability to do more. The areas I’m focussed in are obviously anatomy education and getting students to their exams, but also tapping into funding because that funding is important from a University’s perspective. 
 
“None of this is a personal goal, I do it because I enjoy doing it and is beneficial to the department as a whole and talk about all the things that you do. But’s good to stop, reflect and say it’s a good achievement, but one for everyone that has been involved. I wish to pass on a special to Mr Paul Clews (Keele Anatomy Manager) who for 10 years has been a constant supporter and of-course my family for giving me the opportunity to explore and innovate but at the same time keep me grounded. 
 
“The end result of this has got to be the patients, and I feel I’m helping to make things easier for the next generation of surgeons. If you train surgeons better, you get better surgical outcomes. 
 
“The types of cancers we are treating at UHNM are changing as smoking becomes less prevalent. We’re now seeing less smoking-related cancers and more cancers related to viruses for example, which unfortunately tend to be in younger patients. The motivation is going with the change in demographics, and making sure we’re at the top of our game and providing our patients here locally with all the best treatments.”