Meet The STEER Team

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Chair

Taner is an ST6 currently completing a PhD centred on using technology to improve robotics training. He has been in the deanery for foundation and core training, building strong links. Working his way up to being elected as Vice President in the Dukes Club, he has become accustomed to leadership and management roles.  He has numerous publications and has presented internationally.  

Vice Chair

Arkeliana is an ST7 UGI/ Bariatric trainee in EOE deanery with a keen academic interest. She graduated medicine from Barts and the London (2010) after graduating from Medical Engineering (BEng and MEng) at Queen Mary University of London(2006). She has a PhD from Imperial College London in Medical Device Safety and Human Factors. Hence she has a great interest in safe use of technology, artificial intelligence, use of big data and safe use of data to support clinical decision making. Arkeliana is the Roux representative for the deanery and the local trainee representative for endoscopy. She has a number of publications and has presented both nationally and internationally as well as contributed to two textbooks. She is a reviewer for international journals and an honorary lecturer at Imperial College where she teaches on the Masters in Surgical Innovation course.  

Treasurer

Seiver is an ST6 General Surgery trainee in the East of England Deanery and Treasurer of STEER. He has a strong interest in surgical education, leadership, and collaborative research, and has engaged as the hospital lead in multiple international collaborative audits. He is actively involved in teaching, having organised and delivered a variety of regional and national surgical teaching programmes, and serves as faculty for several courses of the Royal College of Surgeons. He has presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. As Treasurer, he aims to ensure transparent financial management, secure funding, and support STEER’s growth in trainee-led surgical research across the region.

Secretary

Harshal Padekar is an ST3 General Surgery Registrar in the East of England Deanery with a keen interest in colorectal surgery, surgical education, and collaborative research. A graduate of Grant Medical College, Mumbai, he has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented his work at national and international conferences, with interests spanning robotic surgery, artificial intelligence, and surgical innovation.

As Secretary of the STEER Collaborative, Harshal is committed to advancing trainee-led research, strengthening collaborative networks across the East of England, and creating opportunities for trainees to engage in research, education, and professional development that ultimately improve patient care.

Webmaster

Shubham is currently an ST4 general surgical trainee in East of England Deanery. He has a keen interest in UGI cancer surgery. He graduated from Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, India. He completed his core training from Aberdeen, Scotland. 

He has through his surgical training period and medical school, held multiple leadership positions including the current role of Trainee lead for research, audit and QIPs at Ipswich Hospital, ESNEFT from October 2024 - October 2026. During this period he has published multiples papers. He has presented multiple papers at National and International level. 

He has a strong interest in advancing surgical training, research and the standard of care provided to patients near their residence. He has also completed an MBA in Healthcare Management which forms a strong backbone of his interest in systems thinking of patient care. 

He has been involved as a delegate in multiple multi-centre studies like GECKO, EXTEND and now ROSIER study. 

With a strong background in technology use he aims to via STEER webmaster improve the reach of STEER and help the group carry out more multicenter studies and promote collaboration. 

Project Coordinator

Hannah graduated from St George’s Hospital Medical School in 2014. She is an ST8 in General Surgery with a subspecialty interest in UGI surgery.  She completed her core training in the East of England and has recently moved back to the deanery after having her first child.

Throughout her training, Hannah has been appointed to numerous leadership roles and is currently a national trainee representative for a large UK wide RCT - The Sunflower Study, as well as its sister study – The Rosier Study.

Hannah has a keen interest in medical education, for which she has received local and national recognition. She is also passionate about female representation within surgery and is the East of England regional representative for the Medical Women’s Federation, as well as this organisation’s Women in Surgery representative.

Hannah has peer reviewed publications, regularly presents her work on both national and international platforms and has contributed to numerous national collaborative projects. 

Within her role as STEER project developer, Hannah is keen to promote trainee collaboration within research and drive improvements in surgical practice. 

Project Coordinator

Georgios completed his primary medical education in Greece before moving to the UK for his foundation training. Currently, he is a Clinical Research Fellow at Imperial College London and a General Surgery Registrar. He has completed a MSc in Trauma Sciences at QMUL. He is a committee member in various surgical and research associations such as STEER, Roux Group, ASiT, HFSN and MedTech Foundation.

Project Coordinator

Georgios completed his medical degree at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, where he also earned a PhD with a thesis titled “The Effectiveness of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mixed with Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Healing of Inflammatory Bowel Anastomoses.” He is currently a colorectal surgery trainee in the East of England Deanery with a strong academic interest in surgery.

Along his training, Georgios has supported various leadership roles and developed a particular interest in surgical research and education. He has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences and holds expertise in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

He is excited to contribute to STEER as a Project Coordinator, aiming to promote trainee-led research, support collaborative projects, and help drive improvements in surgical practice across the UK and beyond.

Journal Club Coordinator

SpR in East of England deanery, currently out of programme for research. Throughout her training Marita has undertaken multiple leadership roles in a local, regional and national level.

Honorary Consultant

Alan is a Consultant Bariatric, Upper GI, and General surgeon. He has a strong interest in training, academia, and collaborative work. Alan co-founded the STEER Collaborative and served as its first President, as well as being the East of England Deputy Trainee Representative. He continues to support the Collaborative in an advisory Consultant role.

Alan holds an MSc in Surgical Science & Practice from Oxford and a PhD from Imperial College, London. His research actitivy includes over 140 peer-reviewed publications and numerous book chapters, along with 170+ abstract presentations at international conferences. He is a Trustee for the international surgical charity TUGSS and serves as the Director of Corporate Engagement on the organisation’s executive board. 

As a co-founder of 'Scrubbing In,' a surgical education platform on YouTube and podcasts, Alan is dedicated to mentoring and promoting clinically relevant academia. His past roles as the inaugural ASGBI Moynihan Academy President, ASiT Council member, the National Bariatric Surgery Registry (NBSR) the Social Media Lead for the Roux Group underscores his commitment to advancing medical education in the digital era.