On the evening of Wednesday, 12th March 2025, the annual Gerald Townsley Lecture was held in the Gerald Townsley Lecture Theatre within the Pears building at the University of Kent.
The inspiring lecture titled “A British/Sudanese Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Surgeon – Off the Beaten Path” was delivered by Nuha Yassin, a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham and an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Birmingham. Nuha, also a Council Member and Lead for the Future of Surgery, Robotics, and Digital Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, expressed her delight at being invited to speak. She said:
“It was a great honour to be invited to give the second Gerald Townsley Lecture. It was an absolute privilege to engage with such an insightful and dynamic audience, including students, staff, and medical professionals. This experience meant a great deal to me, not only because of the opportunity to share my knowledge but also because of the thoughtful discussions and questions that followed. The enthusiasm and curiosity of the KMMS community were truly inspiring, and I deeply appreciate the warm welcome and engagement from everyone involved.”
‘The best part of the evening was meeting the bright students and feeling energised by their passion and infectious enthusiasm.’
When reflecting on the highlights of the event, she said, “The biggest highlight was being able to deliver the lecture to a mixed audience and seeing everyone enjoy it. However, the best part of the evening was meeting the bright students and feeling energised by their passion and infectious enthusiasm. The Iftar event, which coincided with the lecture, was particularly meaningful as the Muslim students embraced me as one of their own. Meeting the Dean, the staff, colleagues from different backgrounds, and the wider community was invigorating, and I was able to carry the positive energy with me for the following weeks. Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming.”
The event attracted a diverse array of guests, including medical students, staff, medical professionals and KMMS benefactors. Sara, a second year KMMS student praised the event, saying, “I found this lecture to be quite inspiring, as I am a Sudanese student, also aspiring to be a female surgeon in the future. It was really inspiring to see Nuha Yassin trailblazing in robotic surgery and setting an example for many other people.”
Nuha also shared her motivations for entering the field of medicine: “I was always an inquisitive child, and I wanted to understand why certain diseases occur, and more importantly, how to treat them. My biggest inspiration in life, not just in medicine, has been my mother, who is the first female Sudanese doctor in Sudan, and has won the Kitchener prize for medicine. Throughout my life and career, I’ve had several other influential figures, both men and women from various backgrounds, who have inspired and shaped my path. I am eternally grateful for all the peaks and troughs of my journey.”
‘Always bring your true, authentic self to your work, and you never know who you might inspire to step onto the ladder.’
In encouraging other women to enter the field, Nuha said, “We all need to lift as we climb, break the glass ceilings and support each other. Women and other minority groups should not feel that this field is exclusively for an elite few. With ambition, passion, and hard work, along with the right support in place, anyone can achieve a successful career. Always bring your true, authentic self to your work, and you never know who you might inspire to step onto the ladder.”
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