15 Jan Meet Dimitrios Vouros, HPB Fellow at Manchester Royal Infirmary

Introducing Dimitrios Vouros, the newest HPB Clinical Fellow at Manchester Royal Infirmary, supported by the BOWA Fellowship. In this interview, Dimitrios shares the inspiration behind his career in medicine, and how his journey from Greece to Manchester has shaped him as a surgeon. Find out about his professional achievements and what he’s most looking forward to during his fellowship.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Dimitrios Vouros, and I’m a general surgeon coming from the beautiful island of Samos, Greece! I studied medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where I graduated in 2015. During my studies, I was awarded a five-year scholarship through a university-related legacy fund.

After completing my medical degree, I pursued a master’s program in Surgical Oncology, which I completed in 2019, with my thesis focusing on pancreatic surgery. I’m also a PhD candidate at the same university, researching pancreatic surgery with the support of a scholarship from the Hellenic Surgical Society.

I completed my six-year surgical training at the First Propaedeutic Department of Surgery in Athens, Greece, and during that time, I had a three-month clinical attachment at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare, and what drew you to HPB surgery?
From an early age, I was inspired by the idea of making a meaningful impact on people’s lives, and healthcare felt like a natural path for that. I was drawn to surgery because of the immediate impact it can have on patients’ lives, and over time, my exposure to HPB patients allowed me to work directly with people facing some of the most challenging illnesses.

On a personal level, when I was ten years old, a very beloved family member was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At that age, I did not even know what a pancreas or cancer was. That experience made me determined to do my best to help patients like my loved one deal with such difficult diseases.

Why did you apply for the BOWA Fellowship?
Since I finished my residency program as a general surgeon, I wanted to specialize in HPB surgery. I was looking for a centralized department in a high-volume centre where I could work with HPB experts and participate in research projects, and the BOWA Fellowship seemed to fulfill all my desires.

What was the application process like?
I had a positive experience during my clinical attachment at MRI, so when I saw that a clinical fellow position was available, I immediately applied via TRACJobs. After submitting my application, I was shortlisted for a virtual interview with one general surgeon and one HPB surgeon from the unit. The interview was successful, and after reactivating my license to practice and completing all the necessary requirements, here I am!

What are you most looking forward to in this fellowship?
My number one goal is to gain HPB experience by participating in and performing as many HPB cases as possible. This is a unique opportunity, and I’m determined to learn as much as I can—not only in the theater but also in other aspects like perioperative care and patient follow-up. I’m also looking forward to participating in research projects, particularly multicenter studies, and attending English and international congresses in the coming months.

Stay tuned to follow Dimitrios’s journey and hear more about his experiences during the BOWA Fellowship!

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