First Pakistani Elected President of Royal Society of Medicine’s ENT Section

London- Prof. Shahed Quraishi, a British-Pakistani doctor, has been elected as the President of Royal Society of Medicine’s ENT section. The Royal Society of Medicine is one of the greatest providers of postgraduate medical education, in UK; it is also among the most prestigious organizations of Britain’s senior doctors. Prof. Shahed Quraishi, an ENT consultant, is the first Pakistani to serve at the mentioned post. He was elected unopposed by around 500 doctors from the UK, who are members of the ENT section. He will assume charge of the Laryngology & Rhinology (ENT) Section after two week. His services toward Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) and medical education have been duly recognized.

While talking to local press, Dr Quraishi said, “I am humbled and honoured to have this privilege. Being of British Pakistani origin, it’s a great honour for Pakistan, and speaks volumes about the contribution of British Pakistani diaspora. I hope that my elevation inspires British Pakistani children and others alike.”

Prof Shahed Quraishi OBE, a graduate of Dow Medical College, is an ENT consultant and a Head & Neck surgeon. He has been serving at Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) for nearly 31 years.

In 2015, he was given the National Award for Clinical Excellence by the NHS.

In 2016, Prof. Quraishi was the first British-Pakistani surgeon to be appointed as the visiting professor in China, in ENT department.

“I have extensive teaching involvement all over the world and I have chaired training events in Sydney, Berlin, London, Jeddah, Cape Town, Mumbai, Lusanne and Hong Kong,” he said.

In November 2017, Dr Quraishi was awarded the title of ‘Officer of the British Empire’ (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace, in recognition of his services to the NHS and Medical Education. He was the first from ENT community to receive this title, in the last 40 years. Talking about his OBE title, he said, “My nomination for the OBE title to Buckingham Palace was made by my hospital Doncaster Royal Infirmary and a group of ENT surgeons. The Queen asked me about my work and she asked me about pollution in London and asked what could be done to reduce emissions. I gave her my suggestions. She was very well-informed and having audience with her was a great privilege.”

Prof Shahed Quraishi with family outside Buckingham Palace

Currently, Dr Shahed Quraishi is a consultant at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. Prof Quraishi’s wife Humaira is a GP doctor in Nottingham. His elder daughter, Natasha, is a Cambridge graduate and a junior doctor in London, whereas his younger daughter, Sarah is a medical student in Nottingham. He said, “We have devoted ourselves to the education of our girls, and have helped them in making their own choices in life.”