An interview with our new President, Dr Claire Shannon
Dr Ramai Santhirapala welcomes Dr Claire Shannon as new President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists with an interview featuring questions from the RCoA Member Engagement Panel and covering everything from training programmes, careers, anaesthesia associates, sexism in medicine, Claire's own professional journey, and the advice she'd give her younger self.
Edited highlights from this interview are published in the Autumn 2024 issue of the Bulletin.
Dr Claire Shannon qualified from Guys Hospital Medical School in 1987 and trained in anaesthesia in London, undertaking a fellowship in paediatric anaesthesia and PICM at GOSH. She was appointed as consultant at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in 1997. Her areas of interest within anaesthesia are paediatric cardiac and ENT.
She was clinical lead for paediatrics and theatres during the development of Evelina London, and has been involved in postgraduate education throughout the whole of her consultant career as college tutor, TPD, RA and Lead RA and 11 years as FRCA examiner.
She was Associate Dean for London Deanery in 2008, Head of London Specialty School of Anaesthesia and ICM 2015-2020, co -chair of the Academy Board, Chair of the ICM STC and chaired ARCP panels. Her focus was also on developing leadership opportunities setting up leadership and transformation fellowships with Deloittes and CASS business school where she was medical director of the Executive Medical Management Leadership Masters degree.
Dr Ramai Santhirapala qualified from University College London (UCL), and undertook her dual certified UK training in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine in East Anglia and London. She was appointed as a Consultant Anaesthetist and Perioperative Medicine Lead at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in 2018, alongside an Honorary Associate Professor at UCL.
During her time as an anaesthetist, Ramai has published in the remit of novel devices, perioperative care and shared decision making. She has worked closely with the College since 2015 through her role at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. She has a keen interest in ensuring healthcare decisions are made in partnership with patients (‘no decision about me, without me’) and has represented anaesthesia at the national and international level within this remit.
Ramai joins the College as a Council member at an unprecedented time of a global pandemic; one that has not only highlighted the brilliance of the specialty of anaesthesia but also the challenges. She is a firm advocate that workforce wellbeing lies at the heart of high quality patient care. As someone who remains rooted in Sri Lankan culture, Ramai believes an inclusive and diverse workforce brings opportunities, fresh perspectives and creative solutions.
Outside medicine, Ramai is a keen writer and is a correspondent for the international magazine Hinduism Today and is an occasional blogger. She enjoys yoga, hiking and is an amateur veena player.