Special interests
Richard has specialist practice in Colorectal surgery with a subspecialty referral practice focusing on complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease surgery (ie. including surgery for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) and abdominal hernia. He has an advanced practice in minimally invasive approaches to such surgery and a large practice in complex proctology (involving fistula and perianal pathology).
He works closely within multidisciplinary teams and holds joint MDT and clinics with the gastroenterology, plastic surgery, radiology, pathology and gynaecology services at the RVI. His wider surgical practice also covers endoscopy, trauma surgery and wider general surgery.
Richard trained as a surgeon in Northern Ireland and Edinburgh, with further advanced surgical fellowships in Japan, Newcastle and at the National Intestinal Failure Unit in Salford Hope Hospital.
Research
Richard is Clinical Professor of Surgical Innovation at University of Ulster, School of Medicine. He undertook a higher degree in the molecular biology of colorectal cancer chemoprevention within the MRC Human Genetics unit in Edinburgh and currently he leads the Newcastle Centre for Bowel Disease research collaborative.
He is a deputy director of the NIHR Newcastle Commercial Research Delivery Centre and has been Chief Investigator and Principal investigator on a large number of national portfolio studies. He has published extensively in the field of technological and digital innovation in colorectal surgery and has held regional roles in digital transformation and innovation. He is a regular international lecturer in his fields of interest in IBD and technology.
Other interests
Richard has a major interest in the surgical microbiome, technological innovation in surgery, social media, communications in surgery and patient safety outcomes and Enhanced Recovery in Surgery.
