Professor Nadey Hakim
It is our absolute pleasure to welcome multiple award winning surgeon Professor Nadey Hakim to the Morethanajob podcast – the first time that we have ever spoken to a surgeon on the podcast. Nadey has over 30 years experience specialising in transplants and bariatric surgery with an expertise in kidney and pancreas transplantation. He has published over 200 peer reviewed papers, written 24 textbooks and is one of the most sought after international speakers. Working for the Imperial College London as a consultant and a Presidential envoy, Harley Street, Vice President of the British Red Cross and an internationally sought after sculptor creating works for HM Queen Elizabeth II, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump & His Holiness the Pope.
💥Professor let’s start with who you are. Born in 1958 in Britain but you grew up in Lebanon during the civil war. What was your life like as a young man? How has this shaped you into the person you are today?
💥Professor following your early years you were driven to have a career in medicine, you received your MD from Paris Decartes University in 1984 and then began training at Guy’s Hospital. By 1995 you’d performed London’s first ever pancreas transplantation. Can you tell us about your early career in medicine.
💥Professor you represented Britain in 1998 performing the world’s first ever hand transplantation in Lyon and then your life changed when you saw a passenger reading about you in the Evening Standard. How did this change your life?
💥Professor, you then completed a double arm transplant on a French citizen in 2000 who’d lost both arms in an explosive accident. Can you talk to us about this part of your life.
💥Professor, I am huge fan of the book Black Box Thinking and the opening chapter focuses on the case of Elaine Bromiley and explores in more detail how surgeons are scrutinised and unable to make any mistakes. How there is a risk of a defensive culture and not having an openness to error. You were unfairly dismissed after surgery at Hammersmith, a judge rightly reinstated you. What was this period of your life like?
💥What advice would you give to children all over the word in their pursuit of education?
💥Professor, we then look at life outside of surgery and you have built an internationally recognised and award winning reputation as a portrait sculptor. You have created busts for HM Queen Elizabeth II, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, Kim Jong Un, Pope Francis and Donald Trump. How did this part of your career develop?
💥You’ve visited some incredible places can you try and explain how it was to visit Pyongyang and meet Kim Jong Un. You also recently visited Moscow to present a bust to Vladimir Putin and you’ve been honoured with the Order of Friendship for your contribution to the development of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between Russia & the UK.
