Shafi Ahmed

Professor Shafi Ahmed, a globally acclaimed cancer surgeon at The Royal London Hospital, is a trailblazer in medical innovation and digital health education. As the CEO and co-founder of Medical Realities, he leverages virtual reality (VR) technologies to revolutionize surgical training and education. His pioneering work includes streaming live operations using Google Glass and VR, earning him the title of the world's most-watched surgeon and nominations for prestigious awards like a BAFTA and the Nobel Peace Prize.

Born in Sylhet District, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and raised in the UK, Shafi's academic journey in medicine began at King's College Hospital School of Medicine. His research at The Royal London Hospital and Queen Mary University of London culminated in a PhD focusing on colorectal cancer. Shafi's contributions to education are extensive, having served as the Associate Dean at Barts Medical School and as a faculty member at several renowned institutions, including Harvard Medical School and Imperial College London.

In his clinical practice, Shafi specializes in colorectal cancer, pioneering minimally invasive surgeries and contributing to the establishment of a national center for endometriosis. His leadership roles have included serving on the council of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, where he led the international and global health program, and as a specialist advisor to the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Health for digital health innovation.

Shafi's entrepreneurial and educational endeavors extend to his role as a non-executive director of various health-tech companies and chair of major health summits like GIANT and Webit Health. Recognized as a top global influencer in digital health and innovation, his contributions to the medical field are celebrated with multiple awards, honorary doctorates, and professorships.