7 March 2025

What is your role within King’s Health Partners?

I am a medical student within the GKT School of Medical Education at King’s College London. I am also the Events Officer for the university’s Women in Surgery Society. We support and empower women who want to pursue surgical careers through lectures, networking events, mentoring opportunities, and much more. Through this role, I aim to foster an inclusive and inspiring community for future surgeons and advocate for gender equity in surgery.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Representation matters, and I love that I can help cultivate a community where the younger generation of aspiring female surgeons can learn from those who have paved the way. 

I enjoy the opportunity to bring people together and inspire them to pursue their ambitions. It’s a privilege to meet incredible surgeons, listen to their varied and inspiring stories, and learn from their experiences. 

To celebrate Women’s History Month, this month’s King’s Health Partners Academic Surgical Grand Round on the Thursday 27 March is dedicated to women in surgery, featuring two trailblazing speakers. Join us for an evening of inspiration and insight. You can register here.

What inspired you to seek a career in surgery?

I'm fascinated by the human body and drawn to the hands-on, team-oriented nature of surgery. I love that it’s intellectually stimulating, constantly challenging me to grow. Most of all, the ability to serve others and make a direct impact on their lives makes it an incredibly rewarding career.

Last but not least, surgery is an ever-evolving field and there is always something to learn, whether through innovation or new techniques. That being said, I’m keeping an open mind as I progress —medicine is full of surprises, and I’m excited to see where my journey takes me.

What are the benefits of studying within a partnership? 

Studying within a partnership like King’s Health Partners (KHP) creates a unique environment that bridges the gap between students, healthcare professionals, and academics. It has given me the opportunity to observe surgeries in theatre, learn about a wide range of diseases, and see first-hand how theoretical knowledge translates into clinical practice.

Being placed at tertiary care centres like Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has been particularly valuable, exposing me to a diverse patient population and complex medical conditions. Beyond clinical learning - KHP’s grand rounds and workshops have allowed me to broaden my perspective, explore new areas of interest, and gain insights from leading experts across specialties.

What would be your top tips for anyone wanting a surgical career? 

I still have a lot to learn myself, but here’s my advice:

  • Put yourself out there—just go for it! Reach out to that person, send that email, ask that question. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and you might be surprised by the opportunities that come your way.
  • Make the most out of it! Attend events, get involved, and take initiative to explore different specialties.
  • Start learning and practicing surgical skills! Knot tying and suturing can seem intimidating at first, but with practice, the techniques become muscle memory.

Shreya Shah is chairing the next Academic Surgical Grand Round, which is a collaboration with King’s College London Women in Surgery Society. The event features talks by Miss Tamzin Cumming, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Homerton University Hospital, and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London, and Dame Professor Averil Mansfield CBE, Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Imperial College.

It runs from 5:30pm – 6:30pm on Thursday 27 March. Register here.