This Lecture entitled 'Robots will replace surgeons', part of the Cantor Technology Lecture Series, will outline the importance of developing new technologies in Health.

Synopsis

We are living in the midst of the 4th industrial revolution with the fusion of the digital, physical and biological spheres and this is the most exciting time to be involved in Medicine.

The interface of Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Robotics, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Wearables, Nanobiotechnology and Genomics will rapidly accelerate the change in healthcare.

Surgical teaching has changed little over the last 100 years and remains an apprenticeship but this archaic model needs disrupting. Simulation has become the stalwart of practical training yet has become almost obsolete due to the cost and availability.

The Lancet commission on global surgery has reported that 5 billion people do not have access to safe and affordable surgery. To provide equitable surgical care we need to think about how to scale up education using the power of connectivity and using future technologies like augmented and virtual reality to allow knowledge to be shared on a truly global scale.

Traditional teaching at medical schools is one dimensional and does not train students to become the innovators and leaders of the NHS which is essential for its existence. Can the learning continuum embrace technology to create better doctors?

Surgeons are moving towards more minimally invasive surgery or virtual scarless surgery and by virtue are embracing robots which will become more autonomous and allow us to move towards the surgical singularity.

The lecture will be delivered by Mr Shafi Ahmed. Shafi is a Consultant Surgeon at The Royal London Hospital in London.

Biography

Mr Shafi Ahmed qualified from Kings College Hospital Medical School in 1993, trained in London and obtained his specialist registration in general and colorectal surgery. He was appointed as a Consultant General, Colorectal and Laparoscopic Surgeon at The Royal London and St Bartholomews Hospitals in 2007. He performed research on the genetics of colorectal cancer and obtained his PhD from the University of London.

He works in the Centre for Academic Surgery and has established minimal invasive colorectal surgery within the trust. He is pioneering single incision laparoscopic colorectal surgery (virtual scarless surgery) and also works with liver surgeons to pioneer simultaneous laparoscopic liver and bowel resections for cancer. He is the lead clinician and Multi Disciplinary Team lead for colorectal cancer at Barts Health NHS Trust.

The Cantor Technology Lecture Series seeks to provide a forum for academics, students, experts in their fields and the public to discuss areas of work of the University and their relation to society.

As a leading technology university, the University of Bradford has a duty to use its strengths to maximum value for society and strives to do this through its research and application of knowledge.