Professor Shafi Ahmed

Professor Shafi Ahmed

Medical Director of National Clinical Insourcing (NCI) and Clinical Lead for General Surgery

Professor Shafi Ahmed is the Medical Director of National Clinical Insourcing (NCI) and Clinical Lead for General Surgery. A practising Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust in London, he is also a multi-award-winning educator, innovator, and entrepreneur who has become one of the most influential voices in modern healthcare.

Specialising in colorectal cancer, Professor Ahmed combines clinical excellence with a visionary approach to technology and education. He is globally recognised for pioneering the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, and digital platforms in surgery and training. In 2016, he performed the world’s first live-streamed operation in virtual reality, watched by tens of thousands of people across 140 countries, an innovation that redefined how surgical education could be delivered at scale.

Often described as the most-watched surgeon in history, Professor Ahmed’s teaching and live surgical broadcasts have reached millions worldwide, inspiring the next generation of clinicians and broadening access to medical knowledge.

Alongside his NHS role, he has co-founded several health-tech ventures and advises governments, healthcare organisations, and industry leaders on digital transformation in healthcare. His work continues to shape the future of surgery, education, and health system innovation.

At NCI, Professor Ahmed brings his clinical leadership and forward-thinking vision to ensure the highest standards of surgical care, helping NHS trusts expand capacity safely, efficiently, and sustainably.