An internationally recognised breast cancer specialist Dr Nigel Sacks has joined the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) on a voluntary basis for six months. According to a spokesman of Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Dr Nigel Sacks has spent 18 years working as a breast cancer & reconstructive surgeon at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London.
He trained, uniquely, in both breast and plastic surgeries and has maintained an active research interest with more than 100 published peer reviewed articles.
Dr Sacks will use his skills and extensive experience to benefit the SKMCH&RC, which he said, is "already an outstanding and internationally respected multidisciplinary cancer centre". Dr Sacks has previously helped to improve breast cancer services provision in Sri Lanka with Dr Indranee Amarasinghe and The British Council.
"I recently turned 50 and lost both my parents to cancer quite suddenly and unexpectedly, which brought me to a crossroads in my life. I greatly admire Imran's selfless work and fund raising and so I decided to donate what I consider to be my own most valuable assets, my time and expertise to help those in need and less fortunate than others", Dr Sacks said.
Dr Sacks intends to establish fellowships for young surgeons to develop "super specialist" skills in different types of cancer eg, specialist breast cancer surgery techniques including breast reconstruction and oncoplastic breast surgery. He will use his established contacts overseas to facilitate trainee surgeons developing skills abroad before coming back to work in Pakistan and also strengthen the ongoing clinical research programme and the links with the laboratory - "bench to bedside".