In a wide-ranging interview with Medspire, Professor Prokar Dasgupta reflected on his career, from training in India to leading academic surgery in London. He spoke about the changes he has seen in urology, the qualities he values in surgeons and the advice he would give to medical students and doctors. This article brings together highlights from the Medspire interview.
A global citizen
Professor Dasgupta describes himself as a global citizen. He spent the first half of his life in India, where he was born and brought up, and the second half in the UK, with work taking him around the world.
He is King's Health Partners' foundation professor of surgery. King's Health Partners brings together King's College London and hospitals including Guy's, St Thomas', King's College Hospital and the South London and Maudsley. His aim, in his own words, is to "be the best" in surgical science and education. You can read more on the roles and background page.
The path into urology
His grandfather was a doctor and his first inspiration. After school at St Paul's School, Rourkela, and St Xavier's College, Kolkata, he studied at Medical College Kolkata, the oldest medical college in the East.
At that time, almost everything was done by open surgery, including operations for kidney stones and for benign enlargement of the prostate. The arrival of a lithotripter in Kolkata, which could break kidney stones without an open operation, showed him how technology could transform urology.
Changes in urology
Professor Dasgupta considers urology to be the most technologically driven surgical specialty. When he trained, transurethral resection of the prostate was offered to almost everyone with an enlarged prostate; it later became clear that many did not need it. Kidney stones, once removed through large incisions, can now be treated through tiny holes or with no incisions at all.
Robotic surgery has been another major shift, particularly for prostate cancer. Our robotic prostatectomy page explains the operation, and our page on benign prostatic enlargement describes modern treatments for an enlarged prostate.
What makes a great surgeon
He believes one of the most important qualities is decisiveness. A good surgeon makes a clear judgement and acts on it, rather than hesitating.
Equally important is humility. Whether the instrument is a scalpel, a laparoscope or a robot, it has the power to change lives, and patients place great trust in the person using it.
Research interests
His current research centres on a partnership between King's Health Partners Academic Surgery and the department of Surgical and Interventional Engineering at King's College London. A new laboratory combines advanced imaging, new robots and powerful computing, with the aim of developing surgical data science: bringing together operative video and sensing to improve outcomes and training. His wider work is described on the achievements page.
Advice for young doctors
For researchers, his first advice is not to be afraid to dream big. His own first research, into the immunology of a parasitic infection called leishmaniasis, was seen as ambitious at the time but addressed a real clinical need.
For careers more broadly, he stresses that work-life balance matters, and that smart work counts as much as hard work. He took up marathon running later in life and is a dedicated tennis fan, particularly of Roger Federer.
He also highlights good time management and surrounding yourself with excellent people, noting that his success has depended on colleagues, assistants and friends.
Role models and reading
Beyond his grandfather, his role models include Dr Shivaji Basu, who brought the lithotripter to Kolkata, and Professor Pravat Choudhury, who encouraged him to ask why patients recovered, not just how to operate. His favourite books are David Copperfield and Satyajit Ray's Feluda detective stories.
The British Association of Urological Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons of England offer information for anyone considering a career in surgery.
If you would like to arrange a consultation with Professor Dasgupta, please contact the clinic.