Shafi Ahmed is a renowned medical professional, tech entrepreneur and high-performance speaker whose career is defined by transformative achievements. Named one of the Top 50 Innovators in Artificial Intelligence, Shafi’s innovative approach to using technology to teach medicine is breaking new ground in the industry. With such a distinguished record, he is highly sought after as a speaker on medicine, digital health, innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation.
During his early career, Shafi built a formidable medical foundation that has underpinned his many successes. While studying medicine at Kings College Hospital, he was elected President of the Medical and Dental Society and played a crucial role in introducing medical ethics into the curriculum. His dedication to clinical excellence continued as he joined the Academic Centre of Surgery, and established minimally invasive colorectal surgery. While working at the NHS, Shafi was chosen to curate the NHS Twitter account and tweeted the world’s first live operation. This blend of academic rigour and hands-on leadership has been instrumental in shaping his professional journey.
Shafi’s innovative spirit extends powerfully into the realm of technology. A true pioneer in digital health, he became the module lead for a groundbreaking new course at Barts and the London Medical School, where he students are taught by digital health innovators on the future of medicine. His passion for emerging technologies is exemplified by his work with Virtual Medics, which harnesses wearable technology to revolutionise both education and clinical practice. As co-founder of Medical Realities, he has transformed surgical training through virtual reality, augmented reality and serious games. In 2016, Shafi performed the world’s first virtual reality operation, reaching thousands of people around the world and millions on twitter. Shafi’s initiatives are setting new benchmarks in medical education.
Shafi’s career is adorned with prestigious honours and awards, in 2017 he was awarded Future NHS Award for NHS70 and Top British Asian Star in Tech. An honorary professor at The University of Bradford, his advisory expertise has been sought by leading organisations such as Google, Johnson & Johnson, PwC Singapore and Merck. A three-time TEDx speaker and four-time Wired Health keynote, having delivered over 300 talks in 40 countries, Shafi is hired as a dynamic speaker who inspires audiences with his unique blend of medical mastery and technological innovation.
