I was born on Teesside and studied medicine at Newcastle, qualifying in 1980. I began my surgical training in the North East where I developed an interest in breast cancer. Having completed the research for my MD thesis I moved to Bristol as senior registrar/lecturer to the late Professor John Farndon. I was appointed to my first consultant post in 1992 in Weston-super-Mare before moving to York in 1996, specialising in general, breast and endocrine surgery.
In 2011, I moved back to the RVI as a full-time breast surgeon to lead the integration of the breast surgical oncology service with the plastic and reconstructive service, which had been established by Joe O’Donoghue and colleagues.
I have previously been Honorary Secretary of the Association of Breast Surgery, and currently serve on the editorial board of BJS and review articles for EJSO.
I am completing my induction to become an examiner for the Final Intercollegiate FRCS.