The 2026 BFIRST Webinar Series
Welcome to the 2026 BFIRST Webinar Series. We offer focused, high-quality webinars for the global plastic surgery community, bringing together expert insights and practical discussions. Explore upcoming sessions and watch past webinars on demand.
Additional webinar dates and topics will follow throughout the year as we continue to expand our programme.
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Topic
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Speaker(s)
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Date
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| Global Surgery |
Mr Naveen Cavale |
29 July 2026 19:00 pm BST |
| Global Microsurgery Joint Webinar |
Dr Chihena Banda
Dr Abdurazek Ali
Dr Kemi Ayoede |
29 August 2026 13:00 pm BST |
|
Craniofacial Surgery
|
Prof Dr. Richard Thomson
|
July (Date and time TBC) |
29 July 2026 19:00 pm BST
Global Surgery, Mr Naveen Cavale
Mr Cavale trained in London and has been a consultant plastic surgeon since 2009. He has an NHS and Private Practice, both based in South London. Since 2014, he has been visiting Gaza, with a team of Limb Reconstruction surgeons, helping to look after complex blast and gunshot injuries. As well as direct patient care, the emphasis there has been on training local surgeons to increase capacity. Via BFIRST, Mr Cavale is involved in a collaboration project with BSSH in Tanzania. Mr Cavale is the past Chair of BFIRST and continues to play an active role.
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29 August 2026 13:00 BST
Global Microsurgery Joint Webinar | Dr Chihena Banda, Dr Abdurazek Ali and Dr Kemi Ayoede
My name is Dr Oluwakemi Ayoade, I am a Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgeon currently practising as a Locum Consultant in Burns and Plastic Surgery at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
I completed my plastic surgery training in Lagos, Nigeria, and worked as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Lagos, from 2014 to 2026. In 2019, I was privileged to undertake a BFIRST Fellowship at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, followed by a two-year Microsurgical Fellowship at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust from 2023 to 2024.
Following my fellowship, I returned to Nigeria, where I established a microsurgical service at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, helping to expand access to limb trauma reconstructive surgery in a resource-limited setting. I have since returned to the UK to take up my current role in burns and plastic surgery.
As one of the few female microsurgeons from Nigeria, I am passionate about advancing reconstructive microsurgery, improving burn care, and strengthening surgical capacity in low- and middle-income countries. My professional interests include complex wounds reconstruction, microsurgery and mentoring the next generation of surgeons, particularly women aspiring to careers in surgery. I am honoured to share my experience and perspectives at this conference.
Dr. Abdurezak Ali Mohammed is a Plastic, Reconstructive, and Microsurgeon and the Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at ALERT Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences.
He completed his plastic surgery training through the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), graduating as the top candidate in the fellowship examination in 2017. In 2022–2023, he completed an advanced fellowship in reconstructive microsurgery at E-Da Hospital in Taiwan, where he received extensive training in complex microsurgical reconstruction.
Upon returning to Ethiopia, Dr. Abdurezak established and leads the country's first reconstructive microsurgery service at ALERT Hospital. Under his leadership, the unit has developed into a center capable of performing complex free tissue transfer for head and neck reconstruction, limb salvage, post-traumatic defects, and oncologic reconstruction. His work has demonstrated that high-quality microsurgery can be successfully delivered in a resource-limited setting through innovation, teamwork, strategic partnerships, and local capacity building.
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Abdurezak is actively involved in surgical education, research, and international collaboration. He is a COSECSA examiner and has served as faculty in microsurgery training courses across Africa. His current interests include microsurgical outcomes research, surgical simulation and skills training, expanding reconstructive services in low-resource settings, and developing sustainable microsurgery programs throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
During this webinar, Dr. Abdurezak will share the journey of establishing Ethiopia's first microsurgery service, highlighting the practical steps taken, the challenges encountered, lessons learned, and strategies that can help other institutions develop sustainable microsurgical programs.
Dr Chihena Banda is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with an interest in reconstructive microsurgery and supermicrosurgery. He currently serves as Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University Teaching Hospital and Lecturer under the University of Zambia School of Medicine. Dr Banda has established the first microsurgery practice in Lusaka, Zambia. His clinical research focuses on microsurgery, wound healing, burns, lymphovascular disease, keloids and global health, while his basic science research focuses on the role of neurovascular structures in wound healing and regeneration.
As one of only 3 qualified plastic surgeons working in Zambia, Dr Banda has focused his passion for academia on establishing the first plastic surgery residency training program in Zambia, and on improving reconstructive microsurgery training in sub-Saharan Africa to address the critical need for trained specialists in the region. He serves as director of the University of Zambia Microsurgery Training Center, a dedicated surgical skills lab in Zambia established in collaboration with Rotary international and the American College of Surgeons H.O.P.E with the goal of training microsurgeons in sub-Saharan Africa.
September 2026 (date and time TBC)
Craniofacial Surgery, Prof Dr. Richard Thomson
Dr. Richard Thomson is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UT Health San Antonio. His clinical practice focuses on the treatment of congenital and acquired facial differences, including post-Mohs reconstruction. He has particular expertise in Cleft Lip and Palate and provides comprehensive care across the full spectrum of pediatric plastic surgery.
Dr. Thomson received his medical degree from the University of Liverpool and subsequently earned a Master’s degree in Surgical Science and Practice from the University of Oxford. He completed his residency training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in Plastic Surgery (FRCS Plast).
He has undertaken extensive subspecialty training in Cleft, Craniofacial, and Pediatric Plastic Surgery, completing three international fellowships:
- Pediatric Plastic Surgery, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
- Craniofacial Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, England
- Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, London, England
Prior to joining UT Health San Antonio, Dr. Thomson served as an attending consultant at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and The Welsh Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery. He is committed to a patient-centered approach, emphasizing individualized care and clear communication with patients and families. He values close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to achieve the best possible outcomes for his patients.
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