Shailinder Singh.

Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Service Lead for Children's Surgery and Critical Care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

About me

I’ve worked as a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon in prestigious hospitals in five countries (UK, USA, Australia, Kuwait, India), learning from the unique advantages and limitations presented by different healthcare systems, different levels of resourcing and different cultural backgrounds. This diverse experience has allowed me to hone a vision for what an ideal Paediatric surgery department can be.

I started my career as a trainee in Surgery at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh (India) in 1987. Having completed six years of General and Paediatric Surgery, in 1993 I was appointed Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery at PGIMER. 

I moved to the United Kingdom in 1994 and embarked on higher paediatric surgical training for four years leading to a Certificate of Completion of Surgical Training (CCST).  I then worked in Kuwait as a ‘visiting Professor in Pediatric Surgery’ for four months. This was followed by two and half years of fellowship in clinical research at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney. 

I was appointed as Consultant Pediatric Surgeon in 2001 at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen’s Medical Centre. Following my interest developed in Australia, I went on to establish the now Bastow Clinical Investigative Unit in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Physiology at Nottingham University Hospitals. The Bastow Unit is now completely functional and is well recognized both nationally and internationally. I was invited by the Ministry of Health from Kuwait to set up a similar facility there. The Bastow Unit has produced original and pioneering research on pelvic ultrasound (for the diagnosis of megarectum) and gastric emptying studies in children. Pelvis Ultrasound is included in the guidance developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). I was granted the degree of DM (Doctorate of Medicine) from the Nottingham University in 2008 on the basis of my research and dissertation on surgical management of constipation.  

View my CV

" I have published much of my research, most notably in the Journal of Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Surgery International. "

Clinical

I am a lower gastrointestinal surgeon with a special interest in the surgical management of constipation and faecal incontinence. I have described oblique anastomosis in pull-through for Hirschsprung’s disease and other original surgical techniques. I have special interest in neonatal surgery and envision Neonatal Surgery as a separate specialty with a different training pathway similar to neonatal medicine. I received 7 Clinical Excellence Awards from the National Health Service UK.

Experience in USA

I took the job of Attending Pediatric Urologist and Pediatric Surgeon at the Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington DC. I worked as Attending Pediatric Surgeon and Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery at West Virginia University (WVU) Hospitals, USA (2017-2019). I served as Chief of Surgery at the WVU (2018-2019).

Teaching and Training

Teaching and Training has always been my passion. I have been actively involved with undergraduate teaching at Medical School of the University of Nottingham since 2001 and was awarded ‘2012 Consultant award for Outstanding Teaching’. I am involved in the selection process for intake of medical school at the University of Nottingham. I have served as Programme Director for Paediatric Surgery at University Hospital Nottingham. I member of ‘Court of Examiners’ of Royal College of Surgeons in England and get involved with national and international examinations and courses run by the college.  I am also examiner for Intercollegiate Board of Paediatric Surgery conducted jointly by Royal College of Surgeons in England, Ireland, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

I have been the Training Program Director in charge of all Paediatric Surgical trainees in Nottinghamshire. I am a member of the Education Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of England responsible forteaching surgical skills to trainees. I have been a tutor to the British army for Paediatric Surgery. I received the ‘Best Teacher’ award for undergraduate teaching at Nottingham University, and ‘Best Attending’ award by Surgical Residents from West Virginia University Hospital USA.

I represent the Royal College in the interviews for the recruitment of new paediatric surgical consultants in the country.

Research and Innovation

I am extremely passionate about innovation. I received a grant from West Virginia University (WVU) to develop an enteral feeding tube that can parachute feed into multiple intervals in the intestine so that feed can reach multiple points along the is intestinal tract in the absence of peristalsis. I developed the prototype at WVU. This ongoing research which I would pursue in Sick Kids. This innovation can put Sick kids on the world map by revolutionizing enteral nutrition in bowel with poor or no motility. This can be liver- saver for millions of people in the world, especially those who cannot afford Total or partial parenteral nutrition.

I have 41 publications in peer-reviewed journals. I am a reviewer for the Journal of Paediatric Surgery, Archives of Diseases of Childhood, The Journal of Paediatric and Child Health, and Journal of Urology. I have written six book chapters and 18 patient information sheets on surgical procedures.

Leadership

Throughout my career in medicine spanning over 25 years, I received regular positive feedback on my leadership and management style from my colleagues, both juniors and seniors. This encouraged me take formal courses in Management. I received a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Warwick University (UK) in July of 2009. This degree has honed my leadership skills. I served as Lead for Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Critical Care at Nottingham University Hospitals. A new High Dependency Unit was set up; operating theatres were reconfigured, and Pediatric Surgical Services were centralized during my tenure. I Clinical Advisor for Paediatric Surgery to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, United Kingdom. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman provides a high-quality, independent complaint handling service.

Leadership Style

I am complimented for my leadership style in all four continents I worked, and in all the fields I served (clinical, research, teaching, management). I get regular appreciation for my skills in conflict resolution, rather conflict prevention and its early detection and resolution with non-legal, simple procedural methods. I am a team player, I used to be the captain of the school hockey team, not because I was the best player but because I was a good organizer, motivator and binder to get the best out of my team. I am not shy of taking tough decisions as long as I am doing the right thing. I always stand for the weakest. As Lincoln rightly said, “nearly all men can withstand adversity, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”. I have always passed this power test with flying colours. My concept of leadership is the servant of the people. I follow my mother’s quote “How happy is he born and taught who serveth not another’s will, whose armour is his honest thought and truthfulness his utmost skill.”

Co-Chair MSC Medical Staff Committee at Nottingham University Hospital

I am co-chair of the Medical Staff Committee (MSC) at Nottingham University Hospital, where I represent 800 consultants to Trust Board. In this capacity, I regularly deal with sensitive and challenging issues such as keeping up patient service during Covid-19 with limited resources, managing people who have workplace conflict and ensuring we move towards more integrated approaches to health e.g., integrating mental health resources within paediatric surgical patient journeys. I regularly exercise the executive-level judgment that is critical to a Division Head role. 

Board level experience

I served as non-executive director at Bilborough college- a sixth form college with more than 1000 students. I had been a member of their Employment Policy and Finance Committee and currently member of standards committee.

Extracurricular and Personal

I enjoy sports. Although my days of competitive hockey are over I still enjoy keeping myself fit. I play badminton.

I am married with two daughters.

Extracurricular and Personal

I enjoy sports and walks in the nature parks. Although my days of competitive hockey are over I still enjoy keeping myself fit. I play badminton.

I am married with two daughters.

Medical Registration

  • West Virginia Board of Medicine 
  • District of Columbia Health Board, Washington DC, USA 
  • Registration with Punjab Medical Council India 
  • Specialist Register of Paediatric Surgery with General Medical Council, London UK 
  • Permanent Registration General Medical Council, London, Registration No: 4369217 (Dated 12.12. 1996)

Membership

  • American Association of Pediatric Surgeons 
  • American Academy of Pediatrics 
  • British Association of Paediatric Surgeons 
  • Nottingham Medico-Chirurgical Society

Fellowships

  • Fellow American College of Surgeons

  • Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics

  • Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin

  • Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons in England, London

Patient Information Leaflets

I have produced eighteen colour illustrated patient information leaflets for EIDO Health Care UK.  These leaflets are currently being used by the NHS and various Children’s Hospitals Internationally. They are accessible on their website www.eidohealthcare.com.

Religion and Culture

I am a Sikh and a follower of all the 10 Gurus and I follow the philosophy of Sri Guru Gobin Singh ji

Academic Qualifications Distinctions

Feb 2009

MBA

Warwick University

Oct 2008

DM

Intercollegiate Board of Paediatric Surgery (Royal College of Surgeons of England, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Ireland)

Mar 1998

FRCS (Paediatric Surgery)

Intercollegiate Board of Paediatric Surgery (Royal College of Surgeons of England, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Ireland)

Feb 1997

FRCS (I)

Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin

May 1993

MCh (Paediatric Surgery)

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Nov 1990

DNB

National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, India

May 1990

MS

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Nov 1985

MBBS

Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab, India

ECFMG (USA) CERTIFIED IN 1996 – ALL 4 Steps of USMLE passed

Academic Excellence (Awards / Distinctions / Medals)

MBBS

Guru Nanak Dev University

Amritsar, India

Best Graduate of Medical College of Amritsar for the Year 1985

Entrance test for admission to Medical School

(A-Level)

Guru Nanak Dev University

Amritsar, India

1st in University

Pre-University (AS Level)

Guru Nanak Dev University

Amritsar, India

1st in University

Matriculation (GCSE)

Punjab School Education Board, India

1st in District

Pfizer Gold Medalist

1st place in:

Surgery
Medicine
Biochemistry
MBBS Final Professional
Clinical Midwifery

2nd place in:

Pharmacology
Forensic Medicine

3rd place in:

Physiology
MBBS 1st Professional

Distinctions in:

Physiology
Pharmacology
Forensic Medicine

First Position in Intercollegiate Board of Paediatric Surgery Exam (Royal College of Surgeons of England, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Ireland)