Mr Stephen Ward

About

Mr Stephen Ward completed his medical degree at St George’s Hospital, London, in 2003, graduating with distinction in clinical sciences. He also achieved a first-class honours intercalated degree in Basic Medical Sciences and won a prize for outstanding performance in written clinical examinations. He went on to complete his basic surgical training in Kent and South London before joining the Higher Surgical Training Programme in the West Midlands.

During his training, Stephen undertook a PhD in cancer immunology at the University of Birmingham. His thesis, The Selective Recruitment of Regulatory T Cells to Colorectal Cancer, was supported by research grants from the Medical Research Council, cancer charities, and the University of Birmingham. Towards the end of his surgical training, he was awarded a travelling fellowship at the University Medical Centre of Amsterdam, where he learned advanced techniques for rectal cancer treatment.

In 2018, Stephen was appointed Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. He is trained in laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and general procedures such as hernia repair. He also has a special interest in treating anal fistula disease and is a member of the Proctology Committee of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland.

Alongside his clinical work, Stephen has a strong academic and research profile. He has published on cancer immunology and on large-scale data studies, including a project that analysed national endoscopy data to identify the average learning curve for competency in colonoscopy. His expertise in data analysis has also led him to develop systems to track colorectal surgery outcomes at University Hospitals Birmingham.

Stephen is the colorectal audit lead at the hospital, chairing monthly clinical audit and outcomes meetings. He also plays an active role in education, supervising trainees at all levels and serving as a registered trainer with the GMC.