International Surgical Ambassadors (ISA's) in Asia and Australasia
The College has International Surgical Ambassadors and Tutors based in Asia and Australasia. Their role is to act as the representative of the College in their country or region. They can provide advice and guidance on:
- Career development
- Applying for and participating in RCSEd examinations and courses
- Local contacts in the surgical profession
- Access to RCSEd resources such as webinars or eLogbook
- Professional updates and skills development
- Local networking and events
For more information on the network or to connect with a local ambassador, please contact Ms Malou Micola von Furstenrecht, International Engagement Manager m.micola@rcsed.ac.uk
To find your nearest International Surgical Ambassador located in Asia and Australasia, please find your country in the list below:
Australia
Mr Alasdair Sutherland – International Surgical Adviser
Alasdair trained in orthopaedics in the North of Scotland programme, and completed a research doctorate. He holds the FRCSEd (Tr&Orth), and received the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in 2002. Between 2002 and 2003 he completed three successive specialist fellowship training posts in Melbourne, Australia (Trauma; Arthroplasty; Sports Orthopaedics). Between 2003 and 2010 he was an Orthopaedic Specialist, Senior Lecturer and Director of Orthopaedic Training in Aberdeen. He was an ABC Travelling Fellow in 2008. He was an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) from 2004 and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers of the RCSEd. In 2010, Alasdair moved to Warrnambool, in western Victoria, Australia, and is now Associate Professor at the Deakin University Medical School and Director of Orthopaedic Services at South West Healthcare. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Surgical Educators and a member of the Court of Examiners of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and has been an instructor in Emergency Management of Severe Trauma (EMST/ATLS) courses. He is Director of Training in Warrnambool for the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA).
Hong Kong
Dr Ho, Ki Wai Kevin - Surgical Tutor (Orthopaedics)
Dr Ho, Ki Wai Kevin is a Clinical Professional Consultant of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Manchester (UK) in 1997 which was followed by his specialist training at the West-Midland Deanery (UK). His post-graduation education includes a MSc in Orthopaedic Engineering at the University of Cardiff (UK) and fellowship training in Arthroplasty and Lower Extremity Surgery at the Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto (Canada). He is a member of the British Orthopaedics Association, British Hip Society and the British Association for Surgery of the Knee. He is the deputy director of MSc in Musculoskeletal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Orthopaedics Programmes at X. His research interests lie in Arthroplasty, Traumatology, Lower Extremity Surgery and Degenerate Joint Condition.
Malaysia
Mr Mohd Hamzah Kamarulzaman – International Surgical Adviser
Mr Mohd Hamzah Kamarulzaman is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Medical Director at Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. His interests include total arterial coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic surgery and mitral valve repair. While he was the Head of the Cardiothoracic Surgical Services for the Ministry of Health Malaysia, he was responsible for the development of the services in designated centres throughout the country. He was instrumental in bringing the conjoint FRCSEd programme to Malaysia. This programme is a collaboration with RCSEd, the Academy of Medicine of Singapore and the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong. He was an MRCS examiner with RCSI and an is examiner for the conjoint FRCSEd programme.
Dr May Thwe Thwe Win - International Surgical Adviser (Myanmar)
M.B.B.S, M.Med.Sc (Surgery), MRCS Ed, Dr.Med. Sc (General Surgery) Lecturer Consultant Surgeon from Yangon General Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar.
Dr Kugan Raman – International Surgical Ambassador (Sabah)
Dr Kugan Raman, graduated from International Medical University (IMU) in 2009 and received basic surgical training in Hospital Putrajaya, Malaysia. He continued his higher surgical training in Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery at University Malaya and Sligo University Hospital, Ireland. He is a member of RCSEd, an ESSQ Tutor for MSc Surgical Science, and associate of Faculty of Surgical Trainers (FST) RCSEd. At present, he is working as an Otorhinolaryngologist and Head and Neck Surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah, Malaysia.
New Zealand
Mr David Bartle – ISA for New Zealand and South Pacific
David Bartle is an Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgeon based in Tauranga, New Zealand. David graduated from the University of Otago School of Medicine and completed his orthopaedic training through the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association. David has completed a Master’s degree in Surgical Education through the University of Melbourne and holds fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and the Faculty of Surgical Trainers. David is involved with education through the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association and with volunteer work and education in the Pacific Islands.
Dr Sarah Rennie – International Surgical Ambassador
Sarah is an academic general surgeon with a passion for medical education, gaining both her FRSCEd and FRACS. She studied Medicine in the UK and completed a basic surgical training rotation in Scotland, whilst researching academic misconduct amongst medical students. She developed and was the inaugural president for JASME (Junior Association for the Study of Medical Education). Sarah was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to complete a PhD in Surgical Education, looking at surgical decision making at Otago University. She then returned to Surgical “Training” in New Zealand. Sarah has maintained in interest in academic medical education and has been an education advisor for the Royal College of Surgeons (RACS) for some of its course, she has been a member of the RACS Academy of Surgical Educators for the last 10 years. Sarah has a portfolio career as a general surgeon and surgical endoscopist, is the Clinical Skills Director for the University of Otago and the Aotearoa New Zealand Surgical Advisor for RACS. Sarah is also a Mum to five fabulous children and Grandmother to two wee boys.
Singapore
Dr Hamid Razak – ISA for Singapore
Dr Hamid Razak is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in hip and knee surgery, with a sub-focus on joint preservation. Dr Hamid completed a fellowship with the internationally renowned joint preservation surgeon, Prof Adrian Wilson at the London Knee Osteotomy Centre, United Kingdom. Dr Hamid is committed to pushing the frontiers in joint preserving surgery, especially in young patients with arthritis. Dr Hamid also takes a keen interest in clinical research too having already published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. He completed an overseas research attachment pursuing translational research in biological treatment of early primary osteoarthritis at Imperial College London. Dr Hamid hopes to translate what he finds in the laboratory seamlessly to surgical practice and innovation.
Asst Prof Hamid Razak – International Surgical Ambassador
Dr Hamid Razak is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in hip and knee surgery, with a sub-focus on joint preservation. Dr Hamid completed a fellowship with the internationally renowned joint preservation surgeon, Prof Adrian Wilson at the London Knee Osteotomy Centre, United Kingdom. Dr Hamid is committed to pushing the frontiers in joint preserving surgery, especially in young patients with arthritis. Dr Hamid also takes a keen interest in clinical research too having already published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. He completed an overseas research attachment pursuing translational research in biological treatment of early primary osteoarthritis at Imperial College London. Dr Hamid hopes to translate what he finds in the laboratory seamlessly to surgical practice and innovation.
Sri Lanka
Dr Jayaindra Fernando – International Surgical Ambassador
Jayaindra trained in Sri Lanka and then in Tauranga, New Zealand. He is currently a Consultant General Surgeon at Lanka Hospitals PLC in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He served many years on the council of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka as a Council member and Treasurer before rising to be its President in 2020. His term of office was marked by the COVID pandemic where he led the college into new areas of COVID guidelines, zoom council meeting and webinars leading up to a fully online Annual Congress, the first of its kind for the college. Jayaindra has served the SAARC Surgical Care Society as its secretary general. This organization links the apex surgical professional organizations of South Asia. He was awarded honorary fellowship of the Association of Surgeons of India as well as Ad Hominem FRCS from the RCS Edinburgh. He is interested in Professionalism and runs a program on the subject for surgical trainees in Sri Lanka.
India
Professor Sathish Kumar - International Surgical Adviser (Chennai)
Dr J Sathish Kumar is a Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Head of Clinical Services at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre where he is Professor and Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery. In addition to plastic surgery residents, he teaches undergraduate medical students, surgical residents from broad surgical specialities, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. His special interests are brachial plexus surgery and microsurgical reconstruction following trauma and cancer. He has been an Intercollegiate MRCS examiner since 2005 and examines for the plastic surgery exit exams in India. He is a surgical skills tutor for RCSEd and faculty for microsurgical and basic surgical skills courses in the region. He is a reviewer for Indian journal of plastic surgery and member of Association of Plastic Surgeons of India, Indian Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Indian Society for Surgery of Hand and Indian Medical Association.
Mr JKA Jameel - International Surgical Tutor (Arcot)
Mr J K A Jameel is a Senior Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist and Minimal Access Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, India. Having qualified from Stanley Medical College, Chennai, India, Mr Jameel trained and worked in the UK for nearly 14 years. He also undertook a period of Oncology research and obtained an MSc from the University of Hull, East Yorkshire. Mr Jameel is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. As a Consultant Surgeon in the UK, he was an educational supervisor and trainer on the Yorkshire basic and higher surgical training programme. He is currently an examiner for the intercollegiate MRCS exams and teaching faculty on the International FRCS examinations training course conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Mr Karthik Maruthachalam – International Surgical Tutor (Coimbatore)
Mr Maruthachalam qualified from Kilpauk Medical College Chennai and did his postgraduation in General Surgery before moving to the United Kingdom. He completed his research degree (MD) from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and successfully published research in the British Journal of Surgery. He did his specialist surgical training in the Northern Deanery rotation in Newcastle and obtained his specialist training certificate in 2012. He worked as a Consultant Upper GI Surgeon in Manchester before relocating back to Chennai. His interests are in advanced laparoscopic surgery for benign and malignant gastrointestinal disease and bariatric surgery. He is a reviewer for the British Journal of Surgery and peer reviews articles on a regular basis. He is interested in teaching and is am part of the faculty for the FRCS International course at Chennai and an MRCS examiner for the college. He is the proud father of two children and enjoys spending time with them.
Dr Shivaram Bharathwaj – Surgical Tutor (Madurai)
Dr Bharathwaj graduated from the Madras Medical College in 1986 and trained in surgery at Chennai, India from 1986 to 1990. He specialised in plastic surgery in the United Kingdom, from SHO level to Senior Registrar in Plymouth, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and East Grinstead successively from 1991 to 1996. He has published several papers and contributed several chapters in national and international publications. At present, he is Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai and Sundaram Medical Foundation, Chennai. He is also Honorary Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the Southern Railway Headquarters Hospital, Chennai. He is an examiner for the MRCS for RCSEd and faculty for the National Board of Exams for Plastic surgery at Apollo Hospitals.
Professor Chintamani – International Surgical Adviser (New Delhi)
Professor Chintamani is Consultant and Head of Department of Surgery at VMMC Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi. He is Governor and President of the American College of Surgeons India Chapter and a Member of the Master Surgical Educators group at the American College of Surgeons. He was the Founder President of the Asian Society of Mastology (ASOMA). He was President of the Association of Breast Surgeons of India from 2013 – 2015, President of the Association of Surgeons of India Delhi Chapter and President of the Indian Wound Society in 2007. He was Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Journal of Surgery from 2013-2018 and Joint Editor –Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology. He was National- Hon. Secretary of the Association of Surgeons of India (2012) and a Governing Council member of the Association of Surgeons of India 2009-2015. He is an Examiner for MS, MRCS, DNB & Mch (Breast, Endocrine & Surgical Oncology) at AIIMS & other Universities. He received an award for Best teacher in 2006 and an Eminence award for excellence in surgery 2012. He has written more than 130 scientific publications in International and National Journals and is a Peer reviewer for more than 15 journals and he has authored ten Surgery and onco-surgery books and chapters and 150 free Teaching clinical and operative videos on YouTube.
Professor Anubhav Vindal – International Surgical Tutor (New Delhi)
Prof Anubhav Vindal is a Consultant General & Laparosocpic Surgeon, Professor of Surgery and Co Chairman, Division of Minimal Access Surgery at Maulana Azad Medical College & Assoc. Hospitals (University of Delhi). He has a keen interest in surgical education and training and has over 15 years of experience as a teacher in surgery. He is a recognized National Faculty for Fellowship programme in Minimal Access Surgery and serves as an Expert in General and Minimal Access Surgery for several Universities in India, and on several national bodies and committees involved in formulating the guidelines and curriculum in surgery. He has been integrally associated with the organization and conduct of MRCS exams and OSCE courses for RCSEd in New Delhi since 2010 and has been examining for the college since 2013.
He has numerous research papers and has authored several chapters in national and international textbooks in Surgery. He has won several honours, awards and recognitions during his surgical career.
Dr Krishna Kumar KS - International Surgical Adviser (Kerala)
DEPT of PLASTIC, VASCULAR, AESTHETIC, TRAUMA & HAND SURGERY
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), FRCS (Edinburgh), FRCS (Glasgow), MCh (Plastic surgery), FRCS (Plastic surgery), CCT in Plastic surgery (UK), Fellow Christine M Kleinert Institute (USA), Examiner & Trainer MRCS (RCSEd & Glasgow), Examiner & Trainer DNB in Plastic Surgery, International External Examiner & Trainer in Plastic surgery (University of Nairobi, Kenya), International Surgical Advisor (RCSED), Member Faculty of Surgical trainers (RCSEd)
Dr Krishna Kumar serves as the HOD & Senior Consultant of the Department of Plastic, Vascular, Hand, Aesthetic & Trauma services in the Kerala Cluster of Aster group.
He is an expert in most advanced reconstructive procedures that include limb, trunk & face defects. He deals with burn injuries to aesthetic enhancements to Cancer reconstructions and peripheral nerve injuries to micro vascular procedures to congenital deformity corrections. He has presented, published and taught extensively in the national and international surgical spheres. Dr Kumar has also been presented with numerous national & International awards. Prior to joining Aster group he was working as HOD & Senior Consultant at Baby Memorial Hospital.
Dr Krishna Kumar is the Regional lead for Smile Train (An International American based charity) in North Kerala, which provides cleft surgeries and treatment completely free of cost. He is an International Trainer & Examiner in Plastic surgery for the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He is also a trainer and examiner for DNB in Plastic surgery in India.
Dr Krishna Kumar is the first Examiner & trainer from Kerala for the MRCS for the Royal College of Surgeons of both Edinburgh & Glasgow. He was singularly responsible for bringing the MRCS examinations to Kerala and the first ever MRCS exams were held in Kerala in 2019. Dr Kumar is an International Surgical advisor for the Royal College of surgeons of Edinburgh. He is also a member of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers of the Royal College of surgeons of Edinburgh.
Dr Krishna Kumar has obtained MBBS from Trivandrum Medical College, MS (Gen Surg) from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. He secured his FRCS from both Royal College of surgeons of Glasgow & Edinburgh. In addition, he has MCh in Plastic surgery from Trivandrum Medical College. He also possesses an FRCS in Plastic surgery and a CCT in Plastic surgery from the British association of Plastic surgeons, UK. He also has a fellowship in Microsurgery & Hand surgery from Christine M Kleinert institute, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Mr Manas Roy - International Surgical Adviser (Kolkata)
Mr Manas Roy studied his MBBS and MS (Surgery) in Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, India. Subsequently he pursued higher surgical training in the UK where he spent most of his time in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. In addition to clinical work he pursued research into the role of matrix metalloproteinases in colorectal carcinoma. Currently he is one of the Senior Consultants in the GI-HPB Surgery unit, Tata Medical Centre, a tertiary care oncology hospital in Kolkata, India. His clinical commitments encompass treating patients with colorectal and hepatobiliary malignancies. He is a keen believer in minimally invasive operative techniques. His research interests range from studying young patients with rectal cancer to developing organoids of gallbladder cancer. He has developed an online database to prospectively capture clinicopathological parameters of patients undergoing operations. In order to reinforce the teaching programme, he is currently constructing an online examination module.
Professor Diptendra Sarkar - International Surgical Tutor (Kolkata)
Diptendra K Sarkar is a Professor of Surgery and chief of the Breast Surgery and Research Unit at IPGMER, Kolkata, India. He was awarded the prestigious GB Ong award by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for securing the highest position in FRCS exam in 2000. He is the Immediate Past President of the Association of Breast Surgeons of India and the Honorary Secretary of Asian Society of Mastology. Prof Sarkar is the Associate Editor of Indian Journal of Surgery and Journal of Indian Medical Association. He is an international Tutor-examiner with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Prof Sarkar was awarded prestigious Hauck Visiting Professorship in May 2019 by Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA. He is a member of the working group committee on Breast Cancer screening in India and has been the international resource person for early diagnosis in breast cancer for Bangladesh. He has served as the member of the Governing Council (EC) of Association of Surgeons of India for seven years.
Ramesh Agarwalla – International Surgical Tutor (Kolkata)
Mr Ramesh Agarwalla is the Director of GI and Minimal Access Surgery, and Chairperson of the Quality and Patient Safety committee at Fortis Hospitals, Kolkata. He is the President of the Hernia Society of India (National chapter of Asia Pacific Hernia Society) and Chairman of the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons. He is an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Minimal Access Surgery (IAGES) Academy of Surgical Research and an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Minimal Access Surgery (JMAS). He is Organising Secretary of the World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery (WCES) 2024. He has been President of the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons (IAGES)- 2016-2017 and was a Governing Council Member Association of Surgeons of India (ASI)- 2013-2015. He was on the Board of Governors of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA) 2017-2019 and was Chairman and Convener of the FALS Board, Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons (IAGES)-2018 to 2019.
Mr Roysuneel Patankar - International Surgical Adviser (Mumbai)
Mr Patankar is a GI Surgeon and Director of Surgical Services at Zen Hospital Mumbai India. He is a teacher for fellowship training in minimal access surgery at MUHS India and PhD guide in Minimal access surgery.
Dr Soumil J Vyas – International Surgical Tutor (Mumbai)
Dr Vyas (MS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS (Upper GI/HPB) is a Consultant Surgeon at the Department of Hepato Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery / Gastrointestinal Surgery / Surgical Oncology / Liver Transplantation, at the Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital. Mumbai, India. He did his initial training in General Surgery and Surgical Oncology in India but has trained extensively within the UK at University College Hospitals and Royal Free Hospital in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery and liver transplantation. He has had numerous publications in peer reviewed journals and book chapters and is a postgraduate teacher and mentor in general surgery for the qualification of DNB (General Surgery). He is a Diplomate of the National Board, National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, India.
Mr Murtaza Adeeb - International Surgical Adviser (Pune)
Mr. Murtaza Adeeb did his medical training at BJ Medical College, Pune. He continued his surgical training in the UK, doing basic surgical training in the North East of England and orthopaedic speciality training in the North West Thames and Oxford Deanery regions. He developed a special interest in revision arthroplasty. He passed the MRCS Ed exam in 2002 and FRCS Ed (Orth) in 2008. After moving back to India in 2010 he has developed an orthopaedic practice in Pune with a special interest in lower limb complex primary and revision arthroplasty. He is attached to several hospitals in Pune, primarily Inamdar Hospital and Jehangir Hospital. He has been an MRCS examiner since 2015 and has participated in various exams since then. He visits hospitals in Karbala, Iraq, as a consultant and helped set up the orthopaedics department in Al Hujja hospital in Karbala.
Dr Rajkumar Seenivasagam – International Surgical Adviser (Rishikesh)
Dr. Rajkumar is a Surgical Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon from India who currently serves as Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology and Sub Dean (Planning) at AII India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh. His interests include gastrointestinal cancers, gynaecological cancers, bone and soft tissue tumours, head and neck cancers, cancer genetics, surgical training, and translational research. He has keen interest in innovation projects which will lead to development of frugal and low-cost healthcare solutions. He has rich clinical and research experience at various hospitals in India and the UK. He is a member of various professional surgical societies and has many research publications to his name. He is currently an investigator in various clinical studies funded by ICMR, AIIMS Rishikesh and NIHR GlobalSurg Unit UK. He has research collaborations with various institutes and industry on innovation projects and AI-based clinical projects. He is an avid teacher. He is currently involved in the training of Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gynaecological Oncology and General Surgery trainees and MBBS students. He is a faculty member and examiner for various national and international courses, conferences and exams. He was the first candidate to successfully complete the RCSEd International Surgical Fellowship Programme and become a member of the International Postgraduate Deanery.
