Real experience.
Better prepared professionals.

Dr David Phillips is a Course Director at ISC Medical and Clinical Business Unit Lead for Public Health Services at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. A Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, he brings more than two decades of clinical experience alongside extensive leadership responsibilities within the NHS.

His work has focused on improving services and standards of care through clinical governance, technical innovation, effective resource management and collaboration across professional and organisational boundaries. He has led service development in sexual health and HIV medicine, with a particular emphasis on improving performance, efficiency and the patient experience.

David has held numerous professional chairing and leadership roles, including serving as Vice President of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). He has a strong interest in developing and supporting clinical teams, recognising that successful services depend as much on their people and culture as on good systems and processes.

As an ISC Medical Course Director, David brings first-hand insight into the realities of NHS management, clinical leadership and governance. His experience helps ensure that training is grounded in the decisions, responsibilities and challenges healthcare professionals face in practice.

Mo’s clinical background is in Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU), having had extensive training in General Paediatrics, Neonates, Anaesthetics and PICU (both nationally and internationally at Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital, Australia). He maintains his interest in clinical and laboratory research having completed his PhD in Developmental Physiology at the University of Nottingham in 2005. He has received numerous awards, honours and grants throughout his training. Mo has acted as the Royal College (RCPCH) Representative on Advisory Appointment Committees for substantive jobs in General Paediatrics and PICU. Mo is an accredited Mentor (awarded the prestigious Mentor Exemplar in 2013), Mentor Champion, Executive Coach (having completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Business and Executive Coaching with Distinction), Career Champion and Mediator, and has close links with NHS North West Academies of Leadership, Mentoring and Coaching. Mo has used these complementary skills to enhance his extensive teaching experience to undergraduate and postgraduate trainees, as well as allied health care professionals, through the use of multimodal teaching methods, including simulation. He has received national and international recognition and accreditation for his interest in medical teaching and education, and was awarded the title of Honorary Senior Lecturer in 2009. As a facilitator, Mo has an enthusiastic and dynamic style of tutoring which is tailored to meet the individual needs of his delegates, regardless of grade or specialty. He also places great emphasis on providing accurate and constructive feedback, with the aim of empowering delegates to make ‘their best even better’.

Ish was appointed consultant in cardiac surgery in 2011. He has trained in Leeds and Cambridge and spent the majority of his specialist training in the Northern Deanery. He undertook a PhD at the Victor Chang Cardiac Institute in Sydney. In 2012 he was awarded a scholarship from the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, which enabled him to pursue his subspecialty interest in mitral valve surgery at centres of excellence in Britain and in France. Ish has taken his medical skills to the track and has been a doctor at the world indoor track cycling championships where he initially developed an interest into the parallels between sporting success and performance in medicine. He has been teaching with ISC since January 2012 and has proved to be able to impart his winning formula onto many candidates who then went on to experience the same success. Ish receives consistently good feedback, with delegates regularly commenting on his approachability and his ability to provide supportive and constructive feedback.

Ram Matsa is dually accredited in Acute Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine and is working as a Consultant Intensivist in University Hospitals North Staffordshire. He underwent post graduate training in medicine at Wessex and Intensive care at Oxford Deanery. He was an outstanding trainee and has made significant contribution towards postgraduate education. He completed an academic degree from Cardiff University and is now the Chief Investigator for NGAL Research, a study looking at acute kidney injury biomarker in critically ill patients. He has vast experience and knowledge in teaching and training diverse needs from medical students to post graduate students. He was nominated for “Significant contributor towards post graduate teaching award”. He has a special interest in Human factors and simulation guided teaching. He currently serves as a course director for two popular courses in the region: Royal College approved tracheostomy workshop and acute care ultrasound course. Ram has a natural adaptability to the student needs and simplifies complex issues and delivers them in a way of easy understanding. When it comes to coaching for interviews, his positive enthusiastic and formulated approach towards responding to questions is well commended. He provides constructive feedback that develops confidence amongst the delegates, notably, some of his feedback include “supportive, encouraging and insightful trainer”.

Fiona has been a Consultant in Ophthalmology for over 10 years, and has held service lead roles in three different NHS trusts. Having worked across general Ophthalmology, her main clinical interests now include medical retinal diseases. She has actively sought opportunities for research, and was awarded her MD in 2016 by the University of Oxford. Fiona has extensive experience of teaching at all levels and by a variety of methods, ranging from one to one teaching to large formal lectures. As a trained Coach and an Appraiser she is used to supporting individuals to get the best out of themselves, and her teaching style is encouraging and enthusiastic. She gives realistic but constructive feedback, and prides herself on making a difference to those she teaches. In her work with ISC, Fiona is able to draw on her experience of the consultant interview process from both sides, having also fulfilled roles on a range of Advisory Appointment Committees.

Petros is a Consultant Adult Psychiatrist working for Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (Acute Assessment Ward and Early Intervention Service). He graduated in Greece and completed all his postgraduate training at the prestigious Royal Free/UCL training scheme for psychiatry over 7 years. He holds a MSc in Psychiatric Research from UCL and is an accredited Cognitive Analytic Therapy Practitioner with a PG Diploma. He has over 7 years experience in medical education and has lectured at UCL, King's, Imperial and abroad at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. He has won the “Top Teacher for Neurosciences” award at UCL for the past two years. He has a keen interest in medical management and first-hand experience of change management as a leader of quality/efficiency improvement projects (on out-of-hours medical cover and IT). Petros has been with ISC since 2012 and has been consistently described as an approachable, enthusiastic and knowledgeable trainer, who facilitates the group very well. He provides honest and constructive feedback and tailors the course to the delegates' needs giving clear rationale for the way to answer questions and land the job!

David is a consultant renal and pancreas transplant surgeon at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. He is also one of the consultants providing the national Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis (EPS) service from Manchester. He trained in Medicine in South Africa and did his specialist training in General and Transplantation Surgery between Manchester and Birmingham where he undertook an MD in Epithelial Biology. He has active research interests in risk stratification for solid organ transplantation as well as the pathogenesis of EPS. David has broad experience in Medical Education and has lectured and taught extensively at both under- and post-graduate level. He has extensive interview experience and is currently enrolled for a Postgraduate Certificate in Surgical Education. A successful graduate of the ISC consultant interview course, David has an enthusiastic approach to teaching. He provides engaging and constructive but focused feedback ultimately ensuring assurance and improved confidence for the candidates.

Ross is a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust with subspecialty interests in skin cancer, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery and medical/dental education.

Following completion of higher surgical training in the West Midlands, he undertook national Training Interface Group (TIG) Fellowships in Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgery and the Management of Skin Cancer in Nottingham and Leeds respectively.

Ross has a strong interest in medical/dental education and graduated with distinction from the acclaimed Masters in Medical Education (MMEd) distance-learning programme with the University of Dundee. Since 2016 he has held the position of Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer with the College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. He has published pedagogical research concentrating on technology-enhanced learning (TEL), particularly the design of bespoke virtual learning environments (VLEs) and flipped classrooms.

George is a consultant in old age liaison psychiatry working in Leeds. As well as his clinical work he also has both academic and educational roles being clinical lead for research and development, deputy associate medical director for doctors in training, a collage tutor at the Yorkshire and Humber deanery, a visiting senior lecturer at the University of Leeds and a NICE specialist committee member.

He has been awarded a PhD, was an NIHR clinical lecturer, and is the co-editor of the handbook of old age liaison psychiatry. He is a trainer in advanced communication skills, and has lectured nationally and internationally. This breadth of experience coupled with him being a regular consultant interview panel member, ideally places him to teach interview skills.

George is an enthusiastic and encouraging teacher, but will also highlight areas for development in a constructive manner. He is a successful graduate of the ISC consultant interview course, and knows what you need to do to get that dream job.

Anna is Consultant Geriatrician in Barnet Hospital. She qualified from University College London in 2008 and has gained the last 15 years of medical training in and around London. She was awarded the British Geriatrics Society Rising Star Award for clinical quality in 2019. Her core interests include frailty, end of life care and medical ethics with her quality improvement projects, teaching interests and publications focusing mainly around these topics.

Anna has been teaching communication skills for 5 years and is the founder of “The Elephant in the Room Advance Care Planning Simulation” course for the Royal Free Trust. She was a member of the London End of Life Care Clinical Leadership Group from 2014-2015 and held the position of British Geriatrics Society NE Thames Secretary and England Council Member from 2017-2021.

As a trainer, Anna is passionate about communication and has a very calm and approachable style of teaching. She shows great depth of knowledge and delegates appreciate her structured and clear style whilst making learning interactive and fun.

Olya O’Connor is a Consultant Paediatric Haematologist at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London. She completed her paediatric training in Liverpool before moving to London for specialist haematology training. Olya has undertaken Clinical Trials Fellowships at both Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Throughout her career, she has worked across more than 15 NHS trusts in different regions of the UK and has held consultant posts in both London and Birmingham. She sits on the national interview panel for ST3 Haematology recruitment and has also been involved in SHO and Clinical Fellow interview panels.

In recent years, Olya has successfully secured several substantive and locum consultant positions across the country, giving her a strong understanding of what panels look for and how to prepare effectively for consultant interviews. She has coached numerous registrars towards successful consultant appointments and is described as a friendly, encouraging and results-focused trainer who helps candidates bring out their strengths with clarity and confidence.

Tharusha works as a Cardiology Consultant at West Herts and Hammersmith hospitals specialising in complex coronary intervention after completing his Cardiology training at Royal Papworth and Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals.

Tharusha has always been involved in teaching and training from medical students to consultants with a particular passion for simulation and human factors.

In his spare time he enjoys playing with his kids, going to the gym and being not very good at Brazilian Jujitsu.

Luke is a Lower Limb Orthopaedic Consultant at North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Trust, having completed all of his surgical training in the North West. He has extensive experience in surgical education and is an acting Educational and Clinical Supervisor at junior and registrar level.

Luke holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education and has significant experience in preparing candidates for surgical interviews. He has previously organised and delivered multiple surgical interview courses across the North West, including courses now sponsored by the Royal College of Surgeons.

He has been awarded educational prizes from the University of Liverpool during his surgical training, reflecting his longstanding commitment to teaching and education.

Luke takes an enthusiastic and supportive approach to teaching, providing focused, constructive feedback designed to improve candidates’ confidence, performance and overall interview technique.

Matthew is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and the ACCS Emergency Medicine Training Programme Director for the Severn region of the South West Deanery. He graduated from Cardiff University and trained across South Wales, Brighton and Bristol, as well as spending time working in Australia.

His particular interest is inclusion health in emergency care. He has contributed to major initiatives to improve care for people experiencing homelessness and to introduce opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses as part of a national programme.

With experience on both sides of the recruitment process, Matthew understands what interview panels are looking for and the challenges candidates face. He enjoys helping doctors communicate their achievements clearly and approach consultant interviews with greater confidence.

Phillip is a Respiratory Medicine Registrar and PhD candidate at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. His research investigates inflammatory processes in COPD, combining clinical medicine with laboratory-based experimental work.

He began his specialty training in the East of England, where his interest in global health led him to become the first respiratory trainee awarded the Cambridge Global Health Fellowship. He subsequently established a research partnership in Nairobi, Kenya, securing further grant funding to develop the work.

An enthusiastic advocate for medical education, Phillip is committed to helping medical students and trainees develop their skills and confidence. His training style is positive, supportive and focused on practical improvement.

Dave combines 25 years of corporate experience, including senior leadership roles with global premium brands, with a longstanding enthusiasm for helping people and teams perform at their best. He holds an MA in Leadership, an MBA and a BSc in Engineering, bringing both academic insight and practical commercial experience to his teaching.

He has coached and trained people at every organisational level, from boardrooms to operational teams, and across a wide range of industries and countries. Much of his work has been in healthcare, including the NHS and pharmaceutical sector.

With an ICF coaching qualification, Dave uses approaches including 360-degree feedback, psychometric tools and behavioural frameworks such as Social Styles, Colours and DiSC. His style is calm, grounded and engaging, adapting to the needs of each group while creating the conditions for those valuable moments when new ideas really click.

Mark spent almost 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, including roles at GSK and AstraZeneca. Starting in research and development as a toxicologist, he moved into sales and marketing before specialising in learning and development, particularly leadership training.

His work also involved developing partnerships with the NHS in disease management. Since becoming an independent training consultant in 2006, he has worked internationally with organisations seeking to strengthen their communication and leadership capabilities.

A Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and an accredited MBTI and Social Styles practitioner, Mark particularly enjoys working with NHS professionals. He regularly delivers leadership, management and communication skills training with ISC Medical, bringing a practical perspective shaped by experience in both industry and healthcare.

Marc has spent 30 years working as a trainer, presenter and professional actor. He draws on the techniques of performance to help people communicate more naturally, engage their audience and deliver presentations with confidence.

His work has taken him throughout the UK and internationally, including the United States, China, India, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany. He has delivered training within the NHS and has been a longstanding trainer on ISC Medical’s Public Speaking course.

His clients have included Oxford University Press, Sky TV, British Gas, npower, Bristol University and the University of the West of England. Alongside training, Marc has appeared in television productions including The Bill, Mistresses, Poldark and Manhunt, and in films including Johnny English. Outside work, he is a third-dan practitioner and teacher of Tae Kwon Do.

Rachel brings over 30 years of experience in learning and development, helping professionals navigate difficult conversations, build influence and develop their leadership and interpersonal skills. Her sessions are practical, interactive and designed to make a difference back at work.

With a degree in Biochemistry, she has worked across healthcare, universities, financial services, telecommunications and the civil service, holding senior positions in training, coaching and operational management. She is a qualified MBTI and Insights Discovery practitioner.

At ISC Medical, Rachel delivers training in Dealing with Difficult People, Teach the Teacher, and Coaching and Mentoring. She also works alongside doctors and researchers on healthcare and research projects, bringing valuable insight into the realities of professional life in medicine.

Jaiden is an Academic Foundation trainee, medical educationalist and trainer on ISC Medical’s Teach the Teacher course. He completed a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Medical Education at the University of Dundee alongside his clinical training.

He has extensive experience teaching medical students and coaching learners. His formal study of education has developed his understanding of learning theory, session design, assessment and feedback, which he combines with hands-on teaching experience.

Jaiden has also co-authored two of ISC Medical’s medical school admissions books: Get into Medical School – 1320 UCAT Practice Questions and the third edition of Medical School Interviews: A Practical Guide to Help You Get That Place at Medical School.

As a Teach the Teacher trainer, Jaiden helps healthcare professionals make their teaching more purposeful, engaging and effective, using practical strategies they can apply straight away.