Urology Fellowships
Approved Fellowships and Fellows' Gallery
This page includes a list of the Urology Fellowship programmes which have been approved under the RCS England Senior Clinical Fellowship Scheme and a gallery of recent Urology Fellows.
Applying to be a fellow
If you would like to be an RCS England Senior Clinical Fellow, you will need to contact the Supervisor / Lead Consultant of the Fellowship programme you are interested in. Ask the Supervisor / Lead Consultant if or when there is a vacancy for a fellow. They will tell you how to apply, if appropriate. Please go to the appropriate Fellowship programme listed below for more information.
Fellows appointed to RCS England Senior Clinical Fellowships will be expected to be ambassadors for the RCS England and meet the requirements of the GMC’s Good Medical Practice.
RCS Senior Clinical Fellowships in Urology
Endourology Fellowships
Newcastle Endourology and Kidney Stone Fellowship
Based at: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: Initially approved March 2023 – February 2026
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Alistair Rogers, Consultant Urological Surgeon
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- Achieve level 4 competency in endourology procedures including; PCNL (including siting own tracks trained by interventional radiology), flexible ureterorenoscopy, and Endourological management in patients with reconstructed urinary tracts and urinary stricture disease.
- The above is a complex cohort of patients including those with neuropathic issues.
- Training in bladder outflow procedures and laparoscopic nephrectomy to level 3 depending on fellows learning agreement. Possible to achieve level 4 in HOLEP and urolift if the trainee has the commitment to achieve.
- Acute management of urinary tract stone disease sequalae e.g. ureteric colic, pyonephrosis, including management on critical care/ITU.
- Managing patients in an outpatient stone clinic setting, both acute and chronic. Involvement with nephrology colleagues in managing patients with metabolic problems causing kidney stones.
- Performing and advising on ESWL
- Performing audit, research and quality improvement/service development activity with subsequent presentation of work at regional/national and international meetings.
- At least one peer-reviewed publication within the 12 month fellowship.
- Development of leadership skills within the theatre and ward environment and also outside clinical practice e.g. running the new North East Stone Forum (due 29.4.2022)
- Develop teaching skills by the provision of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching sessions in clinical and non-clinical environments.
- Non-clinical administrative skills and management e.g. admin work, theatre list planning, patient complaints etc
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- Level 4 Flexible and semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy
- Level 4 laser lithotripsy of renal tract stones
- Level 4 PCNL (with Interventional Radiology assistance), Level 3 PCNL if solo.
- Level 4 Endoluminal treatment of ureteric stricture disease.
- Level 3 HOLEP (possibly level 4 depending on starting experience)
- Level 4 in ESWL provision
Outpatient
- Independence in managing new patients with kidney stone problems
- Part of the stone team proving MDT input to complex cases
- Competency in endourology techniques demonstrated by running courses for theatre nurses and organising North East Stone Forum.
Emergency
- Able to manage acute urological emergencies, with particular emphasis on endourological problems, independently
- Help in the management of acute stone patients on theatre waiting lists e.g. involvement in ureteroscopy allocation meetings, redeveloping patient pathways, increased liaison with A+E
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
- PCNL: 50-70 per year
- URETEROSTOMY: 120-150 per year
- HOLEP: 20-40 per year
- OTHER ENDOUROLOGY PROCEDURES: 70-100 per year
- ESWL: 100-120 per year
Fellows will be required to complete mandatory Interim and Final Feedback as per RCS monitoring protocol.
Female and Functional Urology Fellowships
Newcastle Female and Functional Urology Fellowship
Based at: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: Initially approved July 2016; reapproved December 2019 - February 2023
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Christopher Harding, Consultant Urological Surgeon, with Miss Victoria Lavin, Consultant Urological Surgeon
Fellowship duration: 6-12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- Outpatient management of complex tertiary referrals.
- Independently perform botulinum toxin injections into the bladder.
- Independently perform female stress incontinence surgery.
- Independently perform sacral neuromodulation.
- Wide exposure to surgery for male stress urinary incontinence.
- Independently perform ileal conduit urinary diversion.
- Perform and interpret video cystometry.
- Complete an audit.
- Submission of publication to a peer-reviewed journal.
- Participation in departmental and national research.
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- Independent operator for female stress incontinence surgery.
- Independent operator for ileal conduit urinary diversion.
- Independent operator for sacral neuromodulation procedures.
- Independent operator for male incontinence surgery.
- Lead operator for advanced reconstructive urological surgery.
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
(Estimates are per 6 month block)
- Video/ Simple Urodynamics – more than 25 cases
- Cystoscopy and Botulinum Toxin – more than 25 cases
- Sacral Nerve Stimulation Procedures – more than 25 cases
- Artificial Urinary Sphincter Insertion – 6-10 cases
- Urethroplasty – 2-6 cases
- Periurethral Bulking Injection – 4-6 cases
- Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion – 3-6 cases
- Cystectomy – 2-3 cases
- Bladder Augmentation – 1-2 cases
- Orthotopic Bladder Reconstruction – 1-2 cases
- Penile prosthesis insertion – 2-4 cases
- Colposuspension – 4-6 cases
- Mesh removal cases – 3-5 cases
- Urethral Diverticulum excision – 2-4 cases
- Urogenital Fistula Surgery – 1-3 cases
- Autologous Fascial Sling – 1-3 cases
- Penile Reconstruction (Nesbitts procedure) 2-4 cases
Gender Affirmation Surgery Fellowships
St George's Gender Affirmation Surgery (Feminising) Fellowship
Based at: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: February 2021 - January 2024
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Roland Morley, Consultant Urologist, with Miss Tina Rashid, Consultant Urologist
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
• To develop advanced skills in the surgical management of patients and reconstruction of genitalia in patients with gender incongruence/dysphoria
• Outpatient management of complex tertiary referrals in Gender Affirming Surgery and Complications
• Wide exposure to surgery for Gender Affirming feminising surgery and its complications
Feminising surgery:
a. Independently perform vaginoplasty using penile skin lining, with the creation of neoclitoris and labia
b. Assist with surgery using bowel
c. Perform with supervision surgery using penile skin
d. Perform with supervision revisional surgery including revision meatoplasty
• Complete an audit and Quality Improvement Project
• Submission of a publication to a peer-reviewed journal
• Participation in Departmental and National Research
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
• Independent operator for vaginoplasty using penile skin inversion technique
• Independent operator for common complications in feminising genital gender affirmation surgery
• Perform with supervision feminising genital surgery using scrotal or other skin techniques
• Assist in feminising genital surgery using bowel augmentation techniques
Expected number of main operations to be performed by the Fellow:
• Formation of a neovaginal cavity: 50
• Using skin to form a neovaginal lining: 10
• Creation of a neoclitoris, labia minora and majora: 50
• Bowel segment vaginoplasty: 1-5 (trainee would perform part of these as numbers low)
• Treating complications of genital reconstruction in transgender women: 20
Urology Robotic Fellowships
Lister Urological Robotic Fellowship, Stevenage
Based at: Hertfordshire and South Bedfordshire Urological Cancer Centre
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: Initially approved November 2012; reapproved April 2016; reapproved June 2019 - August 2022; reapproved June 2023 - May 2026
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr J.M. Adshead, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon, with Mr Nikhil Vasdev, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon, and Mr Tim Lane, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- Safe understanding of the equipment.
- Safe and independent Robotic surgeon ready for independent consultant practice.
- To be ready to become a national proctor.
- Ready for consultant Robotic urology posts.
- Understood and carried out robotic audit research and hopefully peer reviewed presentation and publication.
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- Independent surgeon in RALP.
- Experience in Radical Robotic Cystectomy.
- Independent surgeon in Pyeloplasty.
- Independent surgeon in Robotic Nephrectomy.
- Experience in Robotic Partial Nephrectomy.
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
Ralps: 169 total
- Primary operator: 39
- Secondary: 95 with console time
- Assisting approx 40 (some crossover with secondary)
Partials
- 1 x primary (for off clamp AML)
- 11 x console/secondary
- 4 x assist
Nephrectomy
- 1 x primary
- 2 x assist
Pyeloplasty
- 3 cases primary
- 1 cases secondary but with console time
- 3 cases secondary
Open and robotic cystectomy
- 25 over half of the fellowship
- Approximately 10 as secondary (open rather than robotic)
Fellows will be required to complete mandatory interim and final feedback as per RCS monitoring protocol.
Newcastle Robotic Urological Fellowship
Based at: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: October 2021 - September 2024
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Bhavan Rai, Consultant Urological Surgeon
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- An understanding of the intuitive Robotic System
- Independent in Robotic Surgeon in Radical Prostatectomy (NHS standard)
- Experience in Robotic Assisted Radical Cystectomy, Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomy, Robotic Assisted Pyeloplasty, Robotic Assisted Nephro-ureterectomy
- Academia related to Robotic Surgery or uro-oncology
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- Complete All Modules of Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
- Independent in Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
- Experience in Robotic Assisted Radical Cystectomy, Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomy, Robotic Assisted Pyeloplasty, Robotic Assisted Nephro-ureterectomy
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
- Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy-110
- Independent in Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy-20
- Robotic Assisted Radical Cystectomy-15-20
- Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomy-15-20
- Robotic Assisted Pyeloplasty-15-20
- Robotic Assisted Nephro-ureterectomy-15-20
Overall Robotic Cases ~ 180. This will be a combination of bedside assisting, observation and console cases. We will discuss with the fellow their individual needs with bedside assisting. We have a dedicated bedside assistant team with an established rota who will engage with fellow for any bedside assisting training needs. We anticipate this to be less than 10% of the time needed.
Over Console Cases ~ 110. This is the total number of cases that we anticipate the fellow will spend on the console
Primary Surgeon ~ 40. This is the number of cases we anticipate the fellow to be the first surgeon has done over 80% of the operation
St George's Urology Robotic Fellowship, London
Based at: St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: January 2019 - March 2022; reaccredited September 2023 - August 2026
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Christopher J Anderson, Director of Robotic Urology and Fellowship Training
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- Pre-operative, Peri-operative and Post Operative care of Urological Robotic Cancer Cases.
- Competency by Modular training for Robotic Urology Surgery.
- Patient and Cancer outcomes during SURF by AUDIT.
- Trainee opinion on training and trainers to improve quality and trainee satisfaction of training.
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- Competency in planning Urological Robotic Surgery, including the use of Radiology and Pathology.
- Competency in operative steps as defined by the Urological Robotic Surgery modular steps.
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
Caseload for the fellow in 1 year (46 weeks):
- Prostatectomy (n=50 supervised; 15 independent); Nephrectomy (n=30 supervised; 15 independent).
- Gaining experience in Partial Nephrectomy (n=40), Radical Cystectomy (n=40) and Pyeloplasty (n=15).
- All these competencies will be measured and certified by using validated assessments agreed by the training agreement.
Fellows will be required to complete the mandatory interim and final feedback as per the Royal College of Surgeons of England monitoring process.
Fellows awarded Fellowship Certificate (dates of Fellowship):
- Alarick Picardo (April 20 - April 21)
- Dharmender Aggarwal (Apr 21 - Oct 22)
Uro-oncology Fellowships
Addenbrooke’s Uro-oncology Fellowship, Cambridge
Based at: Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: January 2018 - March 2021; reapproved October 2021 - September 2024
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Nimish Shah, Consultant Urologist, with Mr Benjamin Lamb, Consultant Urologist
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- Independent surgeon in robotic radical prostatectomy.
- Safe and effective preoperative management of patients undergoing robotic radical prostatectomy.
- Appropriate case selection of patients for robotic radical prostatectomy.
- Safe and effective follow-up of patients who have undergone robotic radical prostatectomy including management of complications.
Stated learning outcomes:
- Safe understanding of the equipment.
- Safe and independent robotic prostatectomy surgeon ready for independent consultant practice.
- Active involvement in robotic prostatectomy audit and research, hopefully resulting in peer-reviewed presentation and publication.
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
Supervisor (2017): 'The fellow will attend theatre for 3 days and be involved with 6 robotic prostatectomy cases per week. Over the course of the year, they will be involved with >200 cases.'
Fellows will be required to complete mandatory interim and final feedback as per RCS monitoring protocol.
Frimley Park Renal Cancer Fellowship, Surrey
Based at: Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: January 2019 - March 2022; reapproved December 2022 - November 2025
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Neil Barber, Consultant Urologist, Director, Frimley Renal Cancer Centre, with Mr Muddassar Hussain, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon, and Mr Manar Malki, Consultant Urological & Robotic Surgeon
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- To formulate appropriate management plans for patients with complex upper tract conditions.
- To independently perform advanced minimally invasive renal surgery.
- To lead and support a multidisciplinary team managing renal cancer.
- To teach junior team members the basics of renal surgery.
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
See operation numbers
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
- To independently perform robotic partial nephrectomy (total: 22-25).
- To independently perform laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy (total: 30).
- To perform robotic pyeloplasty and nephroureterectomy under minimal supervision (total: 10).
Guy’s Bladder Cancer Fellowship Programme
Based at: Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: Initially approved August 2015; reapproved March 2019 - May 2022; reapproved December 2022 - November 2025
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Ramesh Thurairaja, Consultant Urological Surgeon, with Mr Rajesh Nair, Consultant Urological Surgeon
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- Comprehensive knowledge of management principles and rational decision making.
- Safe and independent dual accredited Open and Robotic surgeon ready for independent consultant practice.
- To be ready to become a national proctor.
- Ready for consultant bladder cancer urology posts.
- Understood and carried out open/robotic audit research and hopefully peer reviewed presentations and publications.
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- Independent surgeon in open cystectomy.
- Independent surgeon in robotic cystectomy.
- Independent surgeon in the urinary diversion.
- Experience in the robotic urinary diversion.
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
Supervisor (2018): The fellow will certainly have exposure to approximately 80 cystectomy cases over a 12 month period with 60-70% of these cases being performed robotically (due to involvement with iROC trial reduction in percentage to 50-60%). In addition, there will also be opportunities to be involved with approximately 30 renal cancer cases and 20-25 exenteration cases over the 12 month period. We expect approximately 15-20 done cases independently at Level 4.”
Fellows will be required to complete mandatory interim and final feedback as per RCS monitoring protocol.
Leeds Robotic Pelvic Uro-oncology Fellowship
Based at: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: Initially approved September 2014; reapproved March 2019 - May 2022
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Sunjay Jain, Consultant Urologist, with Mr Sanjeev Kotwal, Consultant Urological Surgeon
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- Able to perform/assist in a minimum of 50 robotic radical prostatectomies, 25 robotic / open cystectomies, 10 nephroureterectomy and 5 retroperitoneal node dissection cases.
- Presentations at national and/or international meetings and peer-reviewed publications.
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
- The fellow should be able to perform open radical cystectomy and robotic radical prostatectomy independently (Level - 4 competence).
- The fellow should be able to provide comprehensive care to uro-oncology patients in a multi-disciplinary setting.
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
Supervisor (2018): These figures are for procedures the trainee will perform independently. They will also perform major parts of other procedures such as Robotic cystectomy, RPLND and open radical nephrectomy:
- Robotic Prostatectomy 25
- Open Cystectomy 15
- Nephroureterectomy 5
Fellows will be required to complete mandatory interim and final feedback as per RCS monitoring protocol.
Royal Free Renal Cancer Fellowship, London
Based at: Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Surgical Specialty Association approving: BAUS
Approval period: First approved July 2018; reapproved August 2021 - July 2024
Supervisor / Lead Consultant: Mr Faiz Mumtaz, Consultant Urological Surgeon, with Prof Axel Bex, Consultant Urological Surgeon, and Clinical Lead, specialist centre for kidney cancer, Royal Free Hospital
Fellowship duration: 12 months
Stated learning outcomes:
- Comprehensive knowledge of management principles and rational decision making in renal cancer.
- Safe and independent dual accredited Open and Robotic/laparoscopic surgeon ready for independent consultant practice.
- Able to manage all aspects of both benign and malignant disease spectrum relating to the upper urinary tract.
- Able to manage acute renal oncological emergencies.
- Understood and carried out an audit of open/robotic surgery.
- Recognise future directions of research relating to renal cancer.
- Ready for consultant upper urinary tract urology posts.
- Presentations at national and international.
- Publish in peer reviewed journals.
- Exposure to various aspects of very complex upper tract surgery.
Clinical competencies to be achieved:
See operation numbers
Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in:
- Independent surgeon in open (25), laparoscopic (25) and robotic nephrectomy (25)
- Independent surgeon in open (25) and robotic partial nephrectomy (30)
- Independent surgeon in robotic nephroureterectomy (20)
- Independent surgeon in robotic pyeloplasty (15)
Fellows will be required to complete mandatory interim and final feedback as per RCS monitoring protocol.
Comments from recent Fellows
Sarah O'Neill
Frimley Park Renal Cancer Fellowship, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, October 2021 – October 2022.
"Frimley Renal Cancer Centre is a high volume upper tract oncology service. Throughout my year there I was involved in over 200 renal surgeries with a very broad range of pathology and clinical presentations. The high volume allowed me to become a confident independent operator to return to Western Australia with retroperitoneal robotic surgical skills. This niche approach is a great addition to the current skill set in Perth. The training and support of the team was incredible and I will always be grateful for my time in the FRCC team on fellowship."
Yogit Wagh
Lister Urological Robotic Fellowship, East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust Urological Cancer Centre, October 2020 - January 2023.
Dharmender Aggarwal
St George's Urology Robotic Fellowship, St. George's University Hospital NHS foundation Trust, London, April 2021 - October 2022.
Li June Tay
Addenbrooke’s Uro-oncology Fellowship, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, May 2021 to March 2022
Current post: Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon, Kent and Canterbury Hospital
"This fellowship provided a very structured modular training program which allowed me to be independent in robotic assisted radical prostatectomy. There are dedicated experienced surgical assistants for all cases. I spent at least 3 days a week in theatre (6 RARP cases a week), with one specialist clinic and MDT. I had the opportunity to learn both the standard anterior approach and the retzius-sparring approach, also developing clinical maturity in managing these patients. There is ample opportunity to participate in teaching, research and quality improvement projects. Highlights for me were being invited to speak at BAUS oncology, implementing the day case robotic prostatectomy pathway, and publishing several papers. This fellowship is a great finishing school to my training: it has built my confidence and operative skills while preparing me to be a consultant urologist. I will always be grateful to my Ben Lamb and Nimish Shah for all their training, mentorship and advice, and have continued to foster these relationships even after completing my fellowship.”
Sonpreet Rai
Guy's Bladder Cancer Fellowship, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, October 2020 - October 2021
Current post (December 2021): Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
"The Guy’s Robotic Urology fellowship offered me the opportunity to receive training and mentorship from internationally recognised leaders in their field. Guy’s Urology hosts the highest number of robotic systems in a single centre in the UK with the latest dual console Intuitive Da Vinci Xi system and the CMR Versius platform, accompanied by highly skilled and experienced surgical first assistants. The fellowship offered training in Pan-Urothelial and Renal cancer in a highly structured and tailored modular programme. The volume, intensity and breadth of subspecialty practice on offer are phenomenal. Robotic procedures performed include cystectomy and intracorporeal diversion, nephroureterectomy, partial/radical nephrectomy, pyeloplasty, complex ureteric and bladder reconstruction and complex open renal and pelvic surgery including exenteration. There is ample time provided for research and audit activities. Highlights for me include an AUA video presentation, a series of international webinars on pan-urothelial disease, along with several book chapters. This post-CCT fellowship has been the perfect finishing school for independent practice as a Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon and will allow me to provide high quality care to my patients. I will be forever grateful for the skills, experiences and relationships fostered through my fellowship.”
Arjun Nambiar
Newcastle Female and Functional Urology Fellowship, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, December 2020 - October 2021
Current post (December 2021): Consultant Urologist, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
"This fellowship provides the breadth and depth of training required to hit the ground running as a consultant urologist sub-specialising in functional and reconstructive urology. As an ST7 trainee, I felt I was probably ready to start a consultant job, but maybe slightly apprehensive and not quite ready to take on the complex sub-specialty work. After the fellowship I knew was ready and raring to go! That is the difference it can make. Despite my fellowship being in the middle of the COVID pandemic, I was able to achieve the required competencies, as well as gain a wealth of experience in robotic urology, which has provided transferable skills that can be used to help patients with benign disorders requiring urological reconstruction – something very few centres in the UK are currently able to offer. The training is always hands-on, and the timetable is heavily weighted towards operative experience, while still including opportunities to improve out-patient management skills of patients with recurrent UTIs, incontinence and complex reconstructive needs. The monthly MDT is an excellent learning forum where complex cases are discussed, and the fellowship ensures exposure to mesh removal surgery as one of the few nationally accredited centres for this procedure. There is also ample opportunity to be involved in academic and research activities, and the unit has a good track record. Most fellowships can only be as good as the mentors and supervisors running them, and in this regard, Newcastle has the best around in Chris Harding, Vicki Lavin and Trevor Dorkin, so any future fellows will not be disappointed! The RCS accreditation also means there is a level of quality assurance and support that you can rely on"
Jonathan Noël
Lister Urological Robotic Fellowship, East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, November 2019 - September 2020
Current post (from April 2022): Locum Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
"The Lister Robotic Fellowship offers an intensive and highly structured training program. The unit ranks amongst the highest volume centres in the United Kingdom. The tutorship provided is a triple combination (Mr Adshead, Mr Lane & Mr Vasdev) of vast experience in radical prostatectomy, cystectomy with intracorporeal diversion, partial nephrectomy and pyeloplasty. Robotic interfaces develop rapidly, and this strong foundation in multi-port platforms prepared me well for my current single-port experience. My lasting achievement is not only competence in the above, but the clinical guidance and confidence my patients and my trainees will now receive, thanks to world-leading units on both sides of the Atlantic."
Bianca Barea
Newcastle Female and Functional Urology Fellowship, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, March - December 2020
Current post (February 2021): Locum Consultant Urology, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
"This post-CCT Fellowship provided me with excellent experience treating patients with complex female and functional urological problems. I gained invaluable operative experience in one of the leading centres for this speciality in the UK. The teaching provided was exceptional, fully hands-on and interactive. Having completed this Fellowship, I feel it helped me enormously in my transition to becoming a consultant urologist. Freeman Hospital has a high volume of patients and daily operations. Throughout the Fellowship I gained practical experience operating through expert guidance and assistance. Accordingly, by the end of my Fellowship, I felt confident to independently perform a wide variety of procedures. The level of collegiality I encountered at the Freeman Hospital provided the perfect learning environment to develop skills in this particular speciality. I will forever be grateful for the skills and experience I have gained by virtue of taking part in this Fellowship."
Matthew Crockett
Frimley Park Renal Cancer Fellowship, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, October 2019 - October 2020
Current post (February 2021): Consultant Urologist, Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital
"Frimley Hospital has an excellent reputation in the UK and the team at the Frimley Renal Cancer Centre supported me through a difficult year affected by the pandemic. This high volume centre allowed me to rapidly improve my skills in all upper tract operations, particularly robotic partial nephrectomy and introduced me to the retroperitoneal approach. I am now independent, and confident, in all upper tract operations. Thank you to everyone involved."
Ashwin Sunil Tamhankar
Lister Urological Robotic Fellowship, Hertfordshire and South Bedfordshire Urological Cancer Centre, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, June 2019 to May 2020
Current post (September 2020): Consultant Urooncologist and Robotic Surgeon, Department of Surgical Oncology, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, India
"This fellowship gave me an in-depth experience on clinical and surgical fronts. It boosted my confidence in the robotic procedures in urology. At the end of this structured program, I can be a safe and independent robotic surgeon for urology practice as a consultant. Most important would be to have professional maturity, which I can really say is the most valuable thing I got out of this particular fellowship. I had adequate exposure to robotic prostatectomies, pyeloplasties, robotic cystectomies, intracorporeal diversion and partial nephrectomies. I am really grateful to my mentors, Mr Nikhil Vasdev, Mr Jim Adshead and Mr Tim Lane, for training me in robotic surgery and, most importantly, making me understand the nuances to build a good robotic urology program for my future endeavours. I am really proud to take this forward as a consultant in India for the benefit of my patients. The Robotic Urology fellowship at the Lister Hospital is a good learning opportunity for the trainees who want to sub-specialise in the field of robotic urology and urooncology."
Saiful Miah
Addenbrooke’s Uro-oncology Fellowship, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, April 2019 - April 2020
Current post (June 2020): Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon, Buckinghamshire NHS Healthcare Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
'The urology department at Addenbrooke's hospital was one of the early adopters and pioneers of robotic surgery in the UK. Their robotic prostatectomy fellowship is a comprehensive, high volume and holistic one-year training programme which prepares you for all aspects of consultant life. The combination of high-volume operating (3 days a week) and modular training is ideal for those wanting to pursue a career in robotic urological surgery. I was involved as the operating surgeon in more than 130 robotic prostatectomy cases. There is invaluable support from surgical care practitioners who have collectively been involved in over 2000 cases themselves. Addenbrooke’s Hospital is world-renowned for its cutting-edge academic output. This ethos is very much maintained in the urological department with ample opportunity to be involved in research and audit. The fellowship also offers excellent social opportunities including department BBQs, trips to premiership football games (Arsenal) and participation in various intra-mural sports which is aided by the onsite leisure centre. I now consider the consultant supervisors of this fellowship as lifetime friends and colleagues who I will collaborate with and seek advice in my future practice.'