Ankur Pandya
Wing Commander Ankur Pandya stands as a distinguished UK and International figure in plastic, reconstructive, and hand surgery, blending a stellar NHS career with exemplary RAF and Defence Medical service. His journey reflects dedication to healing in both peacetime settings and war zones, marked by humanitarian missions and promoting education worldwide.
Military and NHS Leadership
Appointed as a RAF consultant at Royal Haslar and Queen Alexandra Hospitals, he advanced to Clinical Director of Plastic Surgery and later became Clinical Advisor to the RAF’s Director General of Medical Services. Wg Cdr Pandya served as Past Secretary of BAPRAS, Lead Clinician at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Department, and holds senior lecturer roles at Southampton and Portsmouth Universities.
He was the Associate Dean to the Defence Deanery for five years and is the Training Programme Director for the Oxford and Wessex Deaneries.
He was the Clinical Director for the Tactical Medical wing of the RAF and the Deployed Medical Director for its Hospital Staging Unit. Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan honed his mass casualty expertise, while the honors bestowed on him include the Order of St John and an OBE for services to humanitarian work, education and the Armed forces.
Global Humanitarian Impact
A fervent Operation Smile volunteer, Wg Cdr Pandya has led over 53 missions for cleft repairs, burn reconstructions, and congenital hand surgeries across multiple countries. As former Regional Medical Officer for Europe, Middle East, and Africa and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Ip Smile International, he transformed countless lives, often amid “conveyor belt” screenings that tested resolve. These efforts grounded him post-deployment, countering PTSD’s toll on peers.
He is a trustee for Saving Lives International promoting education and disaster preparedness in Nepal and India.
Personal Passions and Legacy
Beyond scalpel and saxophone, Wg Cdr Pandya paints in oils, captures on camera, writes extensively and lectures on conflict medicine as a Diploma examiner. He is the President Elect for the Eur Board of Plastic Surgery and a UK and European examiner for Plastic and Hand Surgery Diploma Exams.
A Visiting Professor in Romania and Nepal, he inspires through experience and practical teaching. His is a genuine example of resilience - joining the RAF Cranwell (Boot Camp) as a cadet at the age of 39 to win the Best Cadet trophy from the then Prince Charles.
His story embodies surgical artistry in chaos, from NHS hospitals, challenging and broken down world health systems, to global fronts in war and conflict.