Always equipped with an infectious energy, and warm, welcoming smile Shafi Ahmed has an awe-inspiring career. He is a top colorectal surgeon, prominent figure in medical education, entrepreneur and digital health leader.
Can you tell us about the new module that you’re introducing at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry?
Exciting things are happening. We’re completely disrupting traditional medical education and introducing a brand new module in the curriculum, called Barts X Medicine. The first phase, for a selected number of students, is launching on January 13th 2017, and the plan is to roll it out to all students in 2018.
Renowned experts in digital health will teach the students for one Friday each week. The students will learn about entrepreneurship – everything from business plans to securing funding and bringing a product to market. We hope that through the programme, medical students will be inspired and empowered to become entrepreneurially-minded doctors that challenge norms and are well-equipped to improve healthcare for future generations.
World class US and UK faculty will be coming together to teach at Barts X Medicine.
You’re clearly a passionate educator, what motivates you to disrupt medical education for future generations?
I want to give something back and help the next cohort of doctors benefit from some of the knowledge that I’ve gained over the years and do this on a big scale. Philanthropy is my motivation I guess.
I like the idea behind the Medical Realities VR specs – there’s nothing worse than standing at the back of a surgical theatre for hours, not able to see the procedure. But skeptics may say that nothing replaces actual theatre experience, how do you respond?
I totally agree with them. There is no replacement. What we’re doing with VR is augmenting not replacing hands-on experience. The reality is, with surgical training, there are not enough theatre hours available to get the experience required to be an excellent surgeon. VR can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Therefore, if a surgical trainee or medical student is not able to get enough experience, there is an option to continue to develop their skills and knowledge.
VR is augmenting not replacing hands-on experience
Medical realities is a forward-thinking company. What compelled you to think outside the box and act on your idea?
Teaching needs to change and evolve. AR and VR are natural extensions of how we learn already, just different mediums. During the next 5-10 years it is inevitable that the whole of learning will change. I wanted to be in a position to influence and be part of this change.
Can you provide some insight into the business model behind Medical Realities – are you planning to sell to the NHS?
We’re developing a database of operations, constantly adding to it and creating a learning environment to go alongside. It will be downloadable as an app or with hardware and will be sold to institutions or universities at a cost. We also plan to distribute it for free in lower income countries – I am a believer that everyone should have equal access to healthcare.
You have achieved a great deal in surgery and the wider healthcare space, but you often remind your audiences at events that first and foremost you’re a doctor. Do you have any advice for juggling healthcare entrepreneurship and a successful clinical career?
Most doctors are versatile and able to manage busy schedules. Do projects that are in your comfort zone. Bring in expertise when you don’t have it, but stay in your zone of comfort.
Do projects that are in your comfort zone
What do you envisage future challenges to healthcare to be?
There are three key areas:
1. Data. The question of how we manage ‘Big Data’. Who takes ownership? How do we empower patients to use data to their advantage? How can Industry work to enable data to be transparent and available?
2. The interface between artificial and augmented intelligence. How can we use this to help healthcare delivery? For example, how can we make it the first point of contact to reduce the burden on primary care physicians?
3. Wearables. We are yet to exhaust the potential of wearable sensors and telemedicine to enhance the doctor-patient relationship.
Finally, this is an exciting time for health start-ups, which doctor-founded startups are you particularly excited by?
I’m excited about Medic Bleep whose founder is an ex-junior doctor who really understands entrepreneurship and idea-generation. The app will provide an important solution for both intra and inter-hospital communication. It’s similar to WhatsApp but solves the problems surrounding information governance and also links to patient records, namely CRS (Care Records Service).
Doctorpreneurs is looking forward to speaking at the launch of Barts X Medicine on Friday 13th January 2017. To keep updated on the order of the day follow @Doctorpreneurs @ShafiAhmed5 @BartsXMed @DrCatSB
VR- Virtual Reality
AR- Augmented Reality