Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, visited Imperial's Surgical Innovation Centre last week

During a visit hosted by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham - Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who became leader of Burma (Myanmar) in 2016, saw some of the latest innovations in medical education and training.

This included state-of-the-art simulators which recreate clinical environments - Including operating rooms, a ward, and a high-tech endovascular theatre. These highly realistic simulated environments allow medical students and healthcare professionals to practice new techniques, test new technologies and improve patient care.

During the visit, Daw Suu met with Professor Alice Gast - President of Imperial, Professor Gavin Screaton - Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Desmond Johnston - Vice Dean (Education) of the Faculty of Medicine, and Dr Julian Redhead - Medical Director of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, as well as several medical researchers and surgeons.

Innovative healthcare

Imperial’s Surgical Innovation Centre is a cutting edge translational research facility within the Institute of Global Health Innovation.

Led by Lord Darzi, the Centre brings together multidisciplinary research, cutting edge technology, and medical expertise to develop new surgical techniques, boost medical education, and improve quality of life for patients.

Burmese ties

Imperial has a history of supporting healthcare reform in Burma. In 2012, Daw Suu commissioned Lord Darzi and his team from the Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation to conduct a strategic review of the country’s largest hospital – the Rangoon General Hospital.

Lord Darzi met with Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma last year to discuss healthcare reform

Lord Darzi established the Rangoon General Hospital Reinvigoration Charitable Trust in 2013, which has supported local leadership to transform the hospital. The IGHI alongside the Charitable Trust continues to lend expertise and guidance to the hospital to support improvements to both the building’s physical infrastructure and its clinical service.

As part of efforts to rebuild capacity across Burma’s health system, Lord Darzi has also been advising the nation in reforming the country’s undergraduate medical curriculum.