“Your application has been successful, and you have been awarded one of the 2025 Fellowships.” This long-awaited email marked a defining moment in my professional journey. I was honoured to be selected as a BFIRST Fellow for 2025.
I am deeply grateful to BFIRST for awarding me this fellowship and for fully funding my six-week clinical attachment at the Plastic and Hand Surgery Unit of Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), Leeds, United Kingdom, under the supervision of Miss Grainne Bourke, Consultant Plastic and Hand Surgeon. This fellowship provided an invaluable opportunity to gain advanced exposure to modern plastic and reconstructive surgical practices in a high-volume tertiary referral centre, significantly enriching my clinical skills and professional knowledge.
I am a plastic surgeon from Bangladesh with a strong passion for working with children, particularly those with congenital hand anomalies, post-burn deformities, and traumatic injuries. I have also managed patients with devastating high-voltage electrical burns and burn-related amputations. My long-term interests include advocating for burn amputees with advanced facilities like hand transplant, myoelectric hand and increasing awareness and support for individuals with congenital hand anomalies. However, in a resource-limited country like Bangladesh, access to advanced subspecialty training and modern surgical techniques remains limited. With the aim of strengthening my expertise—particularly in hand surgery—I applied for the BFIRST Fellowship and was fortunate to be selected.
At Leeds General Infirmary, I had the privilege of working in an outstanding learning environment under the guidance of Miss Grainne Bourke, one of the most confident, skilled, and inspiring hand surgeons I have ever met. LGI is a renowned centre of excellence in plastic, reconstructive, and hand and microsurgery, with a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary care, evidence-based practice, and surgical innovation. I was warmly welcomed by consultants, registrars, nurses, and allied health professionals, whose structured teaching and supportive approach greatly enhanced my learning experience.
During my attachment, I actively participated in hand clinics, operating theatre sessions, ward rounds, multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, and academic teaching activities. On my very first day, I observed the second stage surgery of a bilateral hand transplant case—an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I also attended follow-up clinics for hand transplant patients with Professor Simon Kay and other consultant plastic and hand surgeons, which was both inspiring and educational.
My primary focus throughout the fellowship was hand surgery. I observed a wide range of cases, including hand trauma, tendon and nerve injuries, congenital hand anomalies, brachial plexus injuries, microsurgical reconstructions, skin cancer reconstructions, and post-traumatic deformities. I was particularly impressed by the structured approach to patient care, the emphasis on functional recovery, and the close collaboration with hand therapists—elements that are highly relevant to improving outcomes in my home country. The strong focus on patient safety, meticulous surgical technique, complication management, and evidence-based practice greatly enhanced my understanding of contemporary plastic surgery.
Beyond surgical skills, this fellowship deepened my appreciation for clinical governance, proper documentation, informed consent, infection control, and multidisciplinary teamwork. These are essential components of high-quality healthcare delivery and are areas I aim to further develop in my own institution.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my fellowship was attending the Children’s Hand Clinic. The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, with many children and their families gathered in a large hall while consultants, professors, fellows, and physiotherapists attended to them systematically. These clinics provided an excellent learning environment, particularly in surgical planning, postoperative follow-up, rehabilitation, parental counselling, and consent-taking.
I am profoundly grateful to Miss Grainne Bourke for giving me the opportunity to work under her supervision and for her constant guidance and encouragement. I would also like to sincerely thank Professor Simon Kay, Mr. Robert Bains, Mr. Waseem Bhat, Miss Rachel Currie, Dr. Kavit Amin, and all other consultants, physiotherapists, nurses, and staff for their warm acceptance and for making my observership such a memorable experience. Special thanks go to Miss Kate Radcliffe for her tremendous support in every aspect of my fellowship, and to Mr. Bojan, the administrative officer, for efficiently facilitating all official procedures.
With Miss Grainne Bourke
As part of the fellowship, I also had the opportunity to attend an advanced hand and wrist cadaveric dissection course in London, organised by Miss Lauren Uppal and Mr. George Murphy. The course was exceptionally well organised, with supportive and friendly trainers. I gained hands-on experience in flap dissections, nerve decompression procedures, joint replacement techniques, and more.
In London, with cadaveric dissection course team
In addition to my professional training, I had the chance to travel and explore several cities, including London, Colchester, Harrogate, and York. Leeds itself is a wonderful city with warm and welcoming people, and I truly miss my time there.
The BFIRST Fellowship has had a profound impact on my professional development. It significantly broadened my perspective on hand surgery and will positively influence my clinical practice in Bangladesh. The knowledge and skills I gained will allow me to provide improved patient care and to share these experiences with colleagues and junior trainees, contributing to capacity building in a resource-limited setting.
In conclusion, the BFIRST Fellowship observership at Leeds General Infirmary was a deeply rewarding and enriching experience. I am sincerely thankful to the BFIRST Committee for this opportunity and to Miss Grainne Bourke for her mentorship, guidance, and unwavering support throughout my training. This fellowship represents a significant milestone in my career as a plastic and hand surgeon and has inspired both professional growth and international academic collaboration.
Thank you all.
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