Spinal Deformity Senior Clinical Fellow

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Spinal Deformity Senior Clinical Fellow

The closing date is 12 October 2025

X 1 January 2026 lead consultant Mr Mohammed Madi

The fellowship scope of practice includes full-endoscopic and bi-portal endoscopic spinal surgery techniques, paediatric and adult spinal deformity correction (anterior and posterior approaches, instrumented fusion, and osteotomies), navigation-assisted spinal surgery, and primary and complex revision procedures for deformity, infection and trauma.

X 1 February 2026 Lead Consultant Mr Roozbeh Shafafy

Paediatric & Adult Spinal Deformity, scoliosis, Kyphosis, Degenerative spinal disease, Myeloma of the spine, spinal tumours, Spinal trauma

Complex Paediatric and Adult Spinal Deformity, Scoliosis, Kyphosis, Revision Surgery, Computer Navigated Surgery

Spinal tumour management and surgery including primary malignant, secondary malignant and benign spinal tumours

Spinal deformity in children and adults

Acute spinal conditions including spinal trauma, disc prolapse and spinal sports injuries

Degenerative spinal conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine

Minimally invasive and technology-enabled spine surgery

Applicants should either have the CCT or have undertaken 1 year Spinal fellowship or close to it.

Main duties of the job

The fellowship is designed to provide skills and competencies above and beyond what is currently required to obtain a CCT in the relevant surgical specialty. Applicants should already be experienced in spinal surgery; the fellowship offers exposure to a wide range of degenerative, adult and paediatric deformity surgery (with specific reference to minimal access techniques as well as computer navigated spinal surgery).

They will be expected to develop knowledge clinically and surgically over the fellowship. The aim is to prepare the successful candidate for complex spinal surgery at consultant level. The case mix of spinal surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is extensive: paediatric and adult complex spinal deformity, spinal tumours, spinal infections, low back and neck surgery and spinal trauma including osteoporotic fracture management.

The fellow will also develop leadership to take a leading role as a Consultant in a department dealing with complex spinal conditions. The fellow will develop communication skills and attitudes to set them up for Consultant practice in a centre of excellence and to train the next generation of spinal surgeons.

About us

RNOH Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (RNOH) is the largest orthopaedic hospital in the UK and a global leader in our field. We provide a dynamic working environment where we support frontline staff to implement improvements to realise our vision of being a world-leading neuro-musculoskeletal hospital providing the best patient care and staff experience in the NHS, delivering world-leading research, and offering a strong foundation of education, training and career progression. Our dedicated staff come from diverse backgrounds, and our patients benefit from the wide range of experience they bring to the trust. RNOH brings unrivalled expertise together in one place allowing us to deliver some of the world's most complex and innovative care to our patients. RNOH is rated good by the CQC and covers two sites, one in central London and one in Stanmore, which has recently opened The Stanmore Building, a new, state-of-the-art inpatient facility.

Job responsibilities

This fellowship year will provide specialist training in the following:

• MDT administration and delivery for tertiary referrals
• Pre- and post-op ward rounds
• Surgical multidisciplinary procedures
• Clinics & theatre list
• Clinical research including data collection and audit
• Preparation of abstracts and papers for presentation and publication

The post is dedicated to the development of high-level clinical and research experience in the field of spinal deformity correction. Additionally, the fellow will prepare a surgical plan for each patient.

Participation and presentation of interesting/complex cases at the weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings for spinal deformity patients. In addition to routine clinical commitments and research sessions, the fellow may also be called upon to occasionally teach MSc students, specialist registrars and more.

Person Specification

• Full registration with GMC FRCS NTN in relevant surgical specialty within 6 months of CCT date.
• 1 year spinal fellowship already undertaken or close to end

Experience

• Experience in spinal surgery at SpR level
• Interest in spinal surgery, especially spinal deformity correction surgery, including adolescent and degenerative scoliosis. Some experience in spinal trauma surgery is also preferable.
• Research with higher degree ideally in relevant specialty
• Experience of MDT working
• Evidence of good written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding major risk factors for spinal surgery at population and individual levels
• Aware of needs of spinal injury and deformity patients and carers, and service provision issues
• Ability and enthusiasm to teach medical undergraduates and allied health professionals
• Participation in audit

Disposition

• Clarity of career aims, particularly reasons for choosing fellowship post in spinal deformity and spinal trauma surgery
• Evidence of being a good team member
• Active interest in research and audit
• Commitment to research
• Recognition of the importance of research in scoliosis development and treatment

Other Requirements

• This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance
• Prepared to assess specific training opportunities at various sites according to programme

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust