BIOGRAPHY

1. Professor of Surgery – Queen Mary University of London & Barts Health NHS Trust, UK.
2. Consultant Upper GI & Laparoscopic Surgeon
3. Director of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgery and Surgical Skills
4. Director of London Surgical Simulation Academy
5. Co-Director of The University of Zimbabwe International Centre for Surgical Simulation,
6. Founder President of Society of Surgical Simulation & Innovation
7. Editor-in-Chief Journal of Surgical Simulation
8. Council Member – Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland                                     

CONTACT DETAILS

• Email:surgicalsimuk@gmail.com 
• X:@surgicalsimuk
• Instagram:surgicalsim
• LinkedIn:Society of Surgical Simulation: Posts | LinkedIn
• Society:https://www.sssim.org/
• Journal:https://www.journalsurgicalsimulation.com/
• International Surgical Simulation Academy: https://i-ssa.com/
• UZICSS: https://uzicss.uz.ac.zw/

Prof B Patel is Professor of Surgery & Director of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgery and Surgical Skills at Queen Mary University of London and at Barts Health NHS Trust London, UK. He is an internationally recognised leader in the field of technology-enhanced surgical education. In October 2005, he created the world’s first master’s course in acquiring surgical skills by virtual reality simulation to fast-track surgical training. As Programme Director of the MSc in Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery and Surgical Skills at Queen Mary University of London, he has played a pivotal role in transforming how technical skills are taught, assessed, and scaled within modern surgical curricula. His work bridges clinical expertise with educational research and simulation technology, enabling a data-driven, personalised, and scalable model of surgical training.

With a career spanning over two decades, Prof. Patel has pioneered the integration of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) into hands-on surgical training, alongside implementation of Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS).

Prof. Patel’s approach challenges the traditional Halstedian “see one, do one, teach one” paradigm by advocating for evidence-based, simulation-led, and AI-supported frameworks. He has developed competency-based programmes that support surgeons at all levels, from novice to expert, and promotes equitable access to high-quality surgical training, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

He has published widely, contributed to policy discussions on surgical education reform, and serves as an advisor to simulation companies and academic institutions on curriculum design and implementation. He has presented internationally at forums such as ALSGBI, EAES, ASiT, ASICON, COSECSA, MSE, and the Society of Surgical Simulation and Innovation (SSSI).

Prof. Patel has also been featured in media outlets including BBC Radio and institutional publications for his insights into the future of surgical training in the era of digital health and the metaverse.

His current work explores the intersection of AI, immersive learning, and surgical video analytics, focusing on performance optimisation, skill retention, and the development of intelligent surgical education ecosystems.