Professor Mohamed A. Imam
Director of Research and Development
MD, MSc(Hons), D.SportMed, ELP (Oxon), PhD, FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Executive Summary
Professor Mohamed A. Imam, MD, MSc(Hons), PhD, FRCS (Tr & Orth), is an internationally recognised orthopaedic surgeon, academic leader, and innovator with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and five edited academic textbooks. As Director of Research and Development at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, he brings a distinctive blend of frontline clinical excellence, translational research expertise, and strategic vision shaped by executive leadership training at Oxford University and AI certification from Stanford University. His work spans trauma, upper limb surgery, AI-enabled healthcare, and digital transformation — always anchored in improving patient outcomes and building a research culture that benefits staff, partners, and the communities the Trust serves.
- 150+ Peer-reviewed publications
- 5 Edited academic Reference and textbooks
- 8+ Awards
- 4 Collaborative initiatives
Research Focus Areas
- Trauma & Orthopaedics
- Upper Limb Surgery
- AI & Machine Learning
- Digital Health
- Sports Medicine
- Translational Research
Biography
Professor Mohamed A. Imam is an internationally recognised orthopaedic surgeon, academic, and research leader with a distinguished record across clinical practice, scholarship, and innovation. He was appointed Director of Research and Development at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust to lead and strengthen the Trust’s research strategy, innovation culture, and academic partnerships.
Professor Imam holds concurrent appointments as Consultant Upper Limb and Complex Trauma Surgeon and Clinical Lead for Trauma Surgery at the Rowley Bristow Orthopaedic Centre, and as Professor and Medical Director at the Smart Health Centre, University of East London - a combination that places him at the intersection of frontline NHS care and applied academic research. His executive leadership training at Oxford University and AI certification from Stanford University further equip him to lead a modern, innovation-driven research directorate.
His research spans trauma and orthopaedics, shoulder and elbow surgery, sports medicine, digital health, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in clinical practice. With more than 150 peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals and five edited academic textbooks, he has developed a substantial body of work that is both scientifically rigorous and grounded in improving patient outcomes.
He is the founder of the OrthoGlobe Collaborative, a network dedicated to advancing musculoskeletal research on an international scale, and co-founder of the FRCS Mentor Initiative, reflecting a sustained commitment to developing the next generation of surgical and academic leaders. He has cofounded other research initiatives in the UK and overseas. At Ashford and St Peter’s, he is building a research environment where clinical teams are empowered to engage with evidence, where innovation is embedded in everyday practice, and where the Trust’s work is visible and valued by partners across the NHS, academia, and industry.
Strategic Priorities
Our ambition is to create a Trust where every clinician feels connected to research, every patient benefits from evidence, and every partnership we build moves care forward.
As Director of Research and Development, Professor Imam’s agenda is organised around six interconnected priorities that reflect both the Trust’s ambitions and the needs of the patients and communities it serves.
| Translational research | Accelerating the pathway from research insight to clinical application, ensuring new evidence reaches patients as quickly and safely as possible. |
| Clinical-academic partnerships | Deepening relationships with universities, research institutions, and industry to connect frontline NHS care with world-class expertise. |
| Innovation culture | Fostering an environment where new ideas are welcomed across all staff groups, tested rigorously, and scaled where evidence supports their value. |
| Equity of access | Ensuring that research opportunities and the benefits of innovation reach all patients and communities served by the Trust. |
| Talent development | Investing in researchers, clinicians, and leaders at every career stage through mentorship, training, and sustainable research infrastructure. |
| Research visibility | Raising the profile of the Trust’s research activity locally, nationally, and internationally to strengthen reputation and attract collaboration. |
Education and Qualifications
| Executive Leadership Diploma | University of Oxford Saïd Business School |
| Machine Learning Specialization | Stanford University School of Medicine |
| PhD | Doctoral Research Orthopaedic Surgery & Innovation |
| MD (Doctor of Medicine) | Medical Research Degree |
| MSc (Hons) | Postgraduate Studies With Distinction |
| D.SportMed | Sports Medicine Diploma |
| FRCS (Trauma & Orthopaedics) | Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons, England |
Awards and Recognition
| 2025 | SICOT Pioneer Award International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology |
| 2023 | ISAKOS Innovation Grant International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine |
| 2017-18 | ISAKOS Upper Extremity Award Recognising contributions to orthopaedic research and innovation |
| 2017 | NHS Leadership Award For leadership excellence within the NHS |
| 2017 |
Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) Award |
| 2017 | AAOS International Scholar American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons |
| 2015 | EFORT Foundation Award European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology |
| 2011 | AO Travelling Fellowship AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland |
Selected Roles and Affiliations
| Director of Research and Development | Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust |
| Consultant Upper Limb & Complex Trauma Surgeon | Rowley Bristow Orthopaedic Centre, Ashford and St Peter’s |
| Clinical Lead for Trauma Surgery | Rowley Bristow Orthopaedic Centre |
| Professor and Medical Director | Smart Health Centre, University of East London |
| Founder | OrthoGlobe Collaborative |
| Co-founder | FRCS Mentor Initiative |
Research & Development Enquiries
For collaboration, partnership, or further information about the Trust’s R&D directorate, please contact the Research and Development office via the Trust website contact directory.
