Role model: Tamsin Greenwell

Tamsin Greenwell, a consultant urologist and honorary associate professor at University College London, was originally going to study civil engineering at university.

“I wanted to build dams,” she says. “But then I took a gap year, became friendly with some medical students, and realised that what they were doing was people centred, intellectually stimulating, challenging, and a much better fit.”

Greenwell studied medicine at Manchester University which she chose “because it was the largest medical school in the UK offering significant diversity” and also “because of the city’s great music scene.”

This was followed by a move to Sheffield for research and specialty training, and then finally to London. “My husband is an orthopaedic spinal surgeon and we felt that London would give us the best opportunity to work somewhere that wasn’t miles away from each other,” she says.

Initially, Greenwell considered specialising in gynaecological oncology, but when she covered urology at a house job at Salford Royal Infirmary she found herself drawn to the specialty. “I thought the urologists were amazing. They were so kind and accessible—and, importantly, happy,” she explains. “I also found their patients and the work really interesting.”

In her current role, every day is different. “I have one all day outpatient clinic and two all day theatre lists as well as multidisciplinary team meetings and administrative commitments,” Greenwell says.

“I particularly enjoy my theatre days—seeing patients beforehand, operating, and taking my trainees through operations, then talking to patients afterwards. It’s always interesting, never boring, and, occasionally, scary.”

Greenwell combines her consultant role with teaching and has been the urology tutor for the Royal College of Surgeons and director of education for the British Association of Urological Surgeons.

“It’s about making sure that in their short training period, and within their overcrowded working lives, we can optimise trainees’ practice and practical skills as well as help and support them,” she says.

She adds, “Students don’t get enough urology at medical school and it’s not considered as a career option by many trainees. I wholeheartedly recommend it as there is a great mix of endoscopic, open, and robotic surgery. There are not that many urological emergencies, so it’s not as busy overnight as other specialties and offers a reasonable work-life balance.”

Greenwell manages to combine her workload with family and a range of exercise classes. “It’s important to me to stay fit and mobile so I can continue working productively,” she says.

She also has a significant interest in shoes and has over 100 pairs. “I’m not sure if ‘shoe collecting’ is officially a hobby but perhaps it should be,” she says.