I was appointed as a consultant surgeon at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in September 2007. I qualified from University College London in 1993 and trained in general surgery in North East Thames. In addition, I spent time at specialist laparoscopic surgery units at Colchester Hospital and specialist colorectal units at University College and Middlesex Hospitals, St Marks Hospital, St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals. I spent two years as lecturer in surgery at University College London and was awarded a higher degree for my work looking at the genetic causes of colorectal cancer. After completing my specialist training, I spent a further year working in the colorectal department at the Mayo Clinic, Arizona, USA, where I increased my experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and was appointed assistant professor at the Mayo Medical School.Since my appointment I haves started performing laparoscopic colorectal surgery at the Kent and Sussex Hospital and have implemented the enhanced recovery programme for patients undergoing major bowel resection, reducing the average inpatient stay for those undergoing elective colorectal surgery to four days. I have also been instrumental in setting up a cancer family history clinic in which patients thought to be at an increased risk of developing colorectal malignancy undergo extensive family history analysis and the pelvic floor service for patients with faecal incontinence, intractable constipation or obstructed defecation.