High praise for Executive Fellowship in Surgical Leadership from 2025 graduates

KHP speaks to 2025 graduates Segun Akilapa, Ekemini Ekpo, Vikramman Vignaraja and Valdone Kolaityte to find out why anyone interested in developing leadership and innovation skills should apply for 2026’s Executive Fellowship in Surgical Leadership.

How was the Fellowship?

Segun Akilapa

It was very educational. In general terms there are two broad modules: leadership and innovation. What was most interesting and exciting were the minds you had in one room, both from the faculty and the students taking part.

We also had experts from fields outside medicine and surgery, and it was interesting to hear about their experiences and how they handled challenging situations.

I gained a lot from the sessions that looked at the perfect working environment, and what we can do to make our own NHS teams similar to get the best outcomes for our patients.

The innovation part of the course made me think like an inventor, which was a first for me. How could I design products to address the day-to-day challenges I faced at work?

Ekemini Ekpo

The Fellowship was absolutely amazing. I met a wide range of people from different professions and walks of life. It really cemented my understanding of leadership and management within the NHS and the healthcare system.

Vikramman Vignaraja

I loved the Fellowship. Initially I wasn't quite sure what to expect and whether it would be relevant to me as a surgical registrar, but actually as time went on it was the part of the week I most looked forward to.

Highlights included leadership workshops where we all took on different senior roles and what they do at boardroom level, and going through Harvard Business School cases and coming up with problems that we wouldn’t normally think about.

It was really enjoyable connecting with other like-minded surgical trainees and seeing how people with different specialities approach problems. The Fellowship is definitely something that people should try to do next year.

Valdone Kolaityte

I think it was an excellent opportunity to develop not only my leadership but also innovation skills, and gain an in-depth understanding of how senior clinical and entrepreneurship teams work.

What would you say to anyone thinking about taking the Fellowship

Segun Akilapa

You probably won’t get this experience from any other programme – it’s unique in the aspects it combines, and the breadth of experience and expertise in the room.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to think outside the box, and get away from the very structured academic mindset to the more exciting aspects of our practice.

Ekemini Ekpo

Just come prepared and with a blank canvas - the world is your oyster. You will meet incredible people who will inspire and nurture you, at an amazing faculty. From this programme I’ve gone on to start an MBA at UCL Global Business School for Health, so it's really given me the platform to build my leadership career.

Vikramman Vignaraja

Don't think about it - just do it. I was really unsure about doing the course and wondered if it would add to my current portfolio or if I would enjoy it. But there really is something for everyone, whether that's innovation or leadership. So I would say just do it, you won't regret it.

Valdone Kolaityte

I would definitely recommend it for any clinicians thinking about developing their leadership knowledge. Or for anyone interested in improving their clinical practices or even inventing devices to make their surgeries more efficient.

You should consider going for it, because this is where you'll make your ideas a reality and improve patient care as well.

What are the main things you'll take away from the Fellowship?

Segun Akilapa

Thinking about how I can be a more effective leader and improve my clinical practice. How can I get my team working in harmony so my patients get the best outcomes possible.

Ekemini Ekpo

Networking. You never know who may be able to help you with projects, ideas and innovations.

Vikramman Vignaraja

There are so many things happening that you never think about as a surgical trainee, but as you get more senior, become a consultant, you're going to have to consider them.

It was great to start thinking about these things now, whether that's systems, processes, or leadership structures. It’s definitely something I will have more appreciation of going forward.

Valdone Kolaityte

The main thing that I've taken from this fellowship is that you constantly have to ask questions in order to improve your day-to-day surgical practice.

It may take time to develop your ideas, and you definitely need to get your team members on board to achieve the best results. But all in all, I've learned a great deal about leadership and innovation, and that teamwork can make your practice excel.

Executive Fellowship in Surgical Leadership

Learn how to innovate, lead responsibly, and navigate change to transform your own clinical practice and leadership.

King’s Health Partners Academic Surgery offers a full-year executive fellowship programme which aims to teach leadership as the process of implementing positive change in dynamic, volatile or complex environments. The international programme, delivered by Dr Peter Gogalniceanu and Professor Prashant Jha, aims to provide global learning opportunities for its participants starting in 2026!

As part of this programme, Fellows will study six original Harvard Business School cases. This fellowship boasts a faculty with real-world med tech, entrepreneurship, and leadership expertise and offers a flexible course structure to suit full-time clinicians.

Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open. To request a copy of the full brochure or if you have any questions, please email KHPLeaders@kcl.ac.uk.

The deadline to apply is Monday 1 December, visit the webpage for more details.