Heena Patel is a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. She studied medicine at St. George’s, University of London and commenced her higher surgical training in London and the North East Thames region in 2006. Her post-CCT specialist training was at St. Mark’s Hospital, London with two further fellowships at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth (robotic surgery) and the national Ethicon Endo-Surgery Laparoscopic Colorectal Fellowship at Frimley Park Hospital. She has gained extensive experience in laparoscopic TME, pouch surgery and complex fistula repair. She has also gained experience with robotic assisted surgery (da Vinci operating system) for rectal cancer surgery. She embarked on a two year period of research at St. Mark’s Hospital and was awarded her MD in 2009. She received the national Moynihan medal at The Association of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland in 2008. Currently, she is interested in optimisation of surgical outcomes of Crohn’s disease resection. Her main interests include surgical management of IBD, colorectal cancer surgery, colonoscopy, management of haemorrhoids and general surgical conditions including hernia and gallstone disease. Personal interests include ballroom dancing, tennis and attending the ballet and classical music concerts.