Mr Syed Aftab is a Consultant Spinal Orthopaedic Surgeon and a previous Clinical Lead for Spinal Surgery at Barts Health NHS Trust, based at the Royal London Hospital. He studied medicine at Pembroke College, Cambridge University and Edinburgh University. He underwent higher surgical training in Orthopaedics and Spinal Surgery on the London NE Thames rotation at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore.

He also gained a Master of Science at University College London in Trauma and Orthopaedics during his training. Syed completed advanced fellowships in Spinal Surgery at the Royal London Hospital. Furthermore, he continues to broaden his experience with visitations to international centres of excellence for spinal surgery (Antwerp Belgium, Bordeaux France, Neustadt Germany and Orlando USA).

Syed has been pioneering the iMAS technique in the UK, using micro access techniques developed by Dr Robert Masson at Neurospine Institute, Orlando, USA (a Federally accredited Centre of Excellence).

Syed believes that the best outcomes for patients can only be achieved when decisions are carefully considered and works within the framework of a multidisciplinary team. Prior to being appointed as the Clinical Lead for Spinal Surgery at Barts Health NHS Trust, he was Clinical Effectiveness Lead for Orthopaedics at the Royal London. He is actively involved in teaching other doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

Syed is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and Module Lead for Spinal Trauma, both teaching and organising the spinal teaching programme for postgraduates studying trauma and orthopaedics.

Syed has published widely in a number of peer-reviewed medical journals and is actively involved in research into spinal surgery. He is also a reviewer for submissions relating to spinal surgery for various academic journals. He has presented at national and international conferences.

Syed is the first surgeon in the U.K. to perform robotic-assisted spinal surgery. He has been developing this area and is currently already on the second generation robot. His NHS practice is the first in the U.K. to offer robotic surgery routinely. He believes that innovation and skill is vital to progress and will soon offer this technological leap to private patients also.