We sat down with our Clinical Lead in ENT, Sidhartha Nagala, to learn more about his professional background and his work at the Medical and Diagnostic Care Group

 

Tell us about your professional background and what led you into healthcare.

“I am a Consultant Thyroid and Parathyroid / Head and Neck Surgeon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
I qualified from St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London in 2003. During my undergraduate training, I was awarded a BSc (Hons) in Anatomy and Neurosciences. I spent a dedicated year teaching surgery to medical students in London leading to a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Education.
I then completed a translational PhD evaluating imaging biomarkers in thyroid tumours at the University of Cambridge. During my research, I was awarded grants from Cancer Research UK and BAHNO. I was awarded a Training Interface Fellowship in Head & neck/ Endocrine Surgery which I undertook in Sheffield. I supplemented my head and neck training with an observership at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York.
I am the ENT research lead at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.  My research interests include use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, specifically in patients with Thyroid nodules and cancer. I actively engage in national NIHR trials.”

What does your work at MDCare involve?

“My role involves overseeing the delivery of excellent clinical care for the in-sourcing of ENT contracts. I work closely with local clinical leads and consultants and oversee the onboarding process to ensure we have the highest quality consultants working for the group.”

How does your work support NHS partners and patients?

“I am interested in improving patient pathways in the NHS so that local teams can work more effectively and efficiently to help save the NHS money.
I believe we can enable and deliver to high productive teams to help NHS partners and reduced waiting lists whilst delivering the high quality consultant-led care.”

What is one career highlight you’re particularly proud of?

“I am the current Educational Lead for the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons.
I was one of the surgeons involved in performing the first UK transoral ‘scarless’ thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomies.”

What excites you about the future of healthcare (if anything)?

“With an ever-ageing population, public healthcare is extremely challenging and resource-strapped. I am very interested in improving patient care, including experiences and pathways.  I believe AI will play an important role in the future of healthcare. The research I am leading with at the University of Reading encompasses this and looks at the patient perspective as more AI is being introduced in the NHS.”