There are moments in every career where you pause – not to count the number of cases, clinics, or call – but to breathe, reflect, and acknowledge the arc of the journey. Recently, I passed one such milestone in my surgical career. I won’t dwell on numbers, but suffice it to say: it’s a marker that would have seemed distant when I first pulled on a pair of scrubs and walked into theatre all those years ago.
The Path Behind
Like many of us in healthcare, my route hasn’t been linear. There have been both professional pivots and personal storms. Some challenges were expected: the exams, the night shifts, the relentlessness of training. Others came out of nowhere – demanding resilience, humility, and the kind of strength you can only muster when there’s no other choice.
Through all of it, I’ve been sustained by a deep belief in the value of our work, and by those around me. Mentors who’ve quietly opened doors. Colleagues who’ve supported when the lists ran long. And patients who remind you, daily, that the skill of a surgeon is nothing without compassion and clarity.
The Team Beside Me
It’s impossible to talk about surgical milestones without honouring the people that make the system run. My deepest thanks go to the anaesthetists, theatre teams, radiographers, advanced nurse practitioners, junior doctors, and admin staff who keep the wheels turning – often in tough conditions. Their excellence and kindness are the silent scaffolding behind every success.
I’m particularly grateful to some of my consultant colleagues – past and present – who’ve shaped me more than they probably realise. And to the registrars I now teach, I hope you know how much you teach me in return.
The Road Ahead
As Clinical Director, a digital lead, and a practicing surgeon, the next chapter holds no shortage of responsibility – but also enormous promise. We’re at a point where medicine is evolving rapidly. AI, sustainability, surgical innovation, and smarter workforce planning are not distant ideals – they’re here now. I feel fortunate to be playing a small part in shaping what comes next.
And on a more personal note, life has taught me to celebrate the present. I work hard, but I cherish the time I get with my children, my family, and the friends who have been constants through the noise.
Quietly Proud. Deeply Grateful.
This post isn’t about the numbers, the titles, or the CV lines. It’s about gratitude – for the path so far and the people who walked it with me. I hope to keep growing, keep learning, and keep serving.
To every one of you who’s been part of the journey: thank you.
Here’s to what comes next.