Professor Peter Whitfield
Honorary Professor and Consultant Neurological Surgeon
Peter is a Consultant Neurosurgeon on the Specialist Register based at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Peter is also an Honorary Professor in the Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth University.
Peter was an undergraduate at Southampton University Medical School (1982-87). He graduated with a Distinction in Clinical Medicine, the Sutton Prize for Surgery and the Newitt Memorial Prize. Peter trained in neurosurgery in Glasgow (6 months) and Cambridge (8 years) and completed a PhD studying the molecular mechanisms of brain injury.
Peter undertakes mainly cranial neurosurgery and some non-instrumented spinal surgery. He has interests in traumatic brain injury, neurovascular surgery and neuro-oncology. He regularly takes part in clinical research and has been Principal Investigator in a number of studies over the last 2 decades. He has published a book on Traumatic Brain Injury and is neuroanatomy editor for Gray's Surgical Anatomy. He has written multiple book chapters and scientific papers. He worked as Professionalism Lead for the Peninsula Medical School for more than a decade (2013-23). Peter also undertakes work as an Expert Witness.
Peter was the Training Programme Director for neurosurgery in South West England before becoming the Chair of the Specialist Advisory Committee in Neurological Surgery (2017-2020). He was also Secretary and then Chair of the National Neurosurgery Selection Board (2014-2020). Peter has considerable experience as an examiner of trainee surgeons as an MRCS and FRCS Examiner, an ICSBE Assessor and as Chairman of the Fellowship of the European Board of Neurological Surgery examination (2015-23). Peter was heavily involved in the development of the UK and European Neurosurgical Curricula.
Peter is a Past President of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons.
When not working Peter enjoys numerous outdoor activities including sailing, birdwatching and photography.
Qualifications:
BM (Distinction), PhD, FRCS Eng, FRCS (SN), FHEA, FAcadMEd
General areas of expertise:
Cranial neurosurgery
Particular areas of expertise:
Traumatic brain injury, neurovascular surgery, and neuro-oncology
Contact Details:
Secretaries:
Jeanne Weeden, 01752 431114
Kirstie Tychyna, 01752 432567
