Nurturing the Next Generation of Ophthalmic Surgeons – Dr Rohan Shankarghatta’s Milestone at CHEC Post Date : July 27, 2026 Career , Ophthalmology 4 minutes read Investing in medical education and providing high-quality, supportive environments for training doctors is a core pillar of modern healthcare delivery. Dr Rohan Shankarghatta, an ST1 Resident Doctor in Ophthalmology within the North West Deanery, recently celebrated the milestone of completing his 100th surgery at CHEC Blackpool. Through structured mentorship, early hands-on surgical exposure, and a collaborative theatre team, the partnership between CHEC and the North West Deanery has demonstrated how independent sector providers can significantly accelerate clinical training and bolster surgical confidence. The Challenge: Building Early Surgical Confidence For early-stage ophthalmology residents, transitioning from theory to hands-on phacoemulsification (cataract surgery) training can be a daunting phase of their career. Traditional training pathways can sometimes limit early exposure to complex surgical steps due to high volume pressures and strict time constraints on standard NHS lists. To develop into a competent, independent surgeon, a resident doctor requires: Early, hands-on opportunities to execute core surgical steps. One-to-one mentorship from experienced consultants who can safely push boundaries. A patient, highly collaborative theatre environment that accommodates the learning curve. The CHEC Approach: A Wholesome Training Environment When Dr Shankarghatta joined CHEC Blackpool in August, he began his phacoemulsification training from the absolute beginning. CHEC established a structured, supportive framework designed to safely fast-track his independence. Accelerated Surgical Exposure Unlike traditional placements where junior trainees may wait months to lead on procedures, CHEC’s training structure allowed Dr Shankarghatta to get involved with crucial surgical steps from the very start. This proactive approach culminated in him successfully performing his first complete case at the Blackpool hospital. Dedicated Consultant Mentorship Under the direct guidance of Dr Moemen Elnawawy, Regional Surgical Lead, and more recently Dr Rania Bassiouny, Dr Shankarghatta received highly responsive feedback. Dr Elnawawy tailored the training to match Rohan’s exceptional eagerness to learn, gradually introducing cases beyond standard beginner complexity as technical proficiency grew. Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Support Surgical excellence relies heavily on the wider team. CHEC Blackpool’s admin and scrub teams fostered an atmosphere of extreme patience and support, allowing the resident doctor to learn the intricacies of theatre flow, patient safety, and team communication without added pressure. The Results and Milestones Achieved The collaborative effort between the clinical training leads, the theatre team, and Dr Shankarghatta has yielded outstanding training outcomes: 100 Cases & Growing: Dr Shankarghatta successfully reached his 100th surgical procedure milestone, which includes 86 entirely complete cases to date. Rapid Independence: The steep learning curve culminated in a recent shift where Rohan independently and successfully managed 9 complex cases on a single list, while remaining fully supported by the supervising team. Multidisciplinary Recognition: His technical ability, humility, and professionalism have been widely praised by the Blackpool theatre team, noting a remarkable transformation in pace and confidence since August. The Trainee’s View “CHEC provides a very wholesome and warm learning environment. I continue to be given plenty of opportunities to learn, operate, and become more independent as a surgeon. Undoubtedly, the reason I can operate and have completed 100 cases to date is in large part due to my CHEC training with the team at Blackpool, and Dr Moemen Elnawawy in particular. Wednesdays have become my favourite day of the week since I spend my mornings in theatre at CHEC Blackpool. I was pushed from the start and was able to get involved with surgical steps early in my training compared to my NHS lists. Most recently, I managed to complete 9 cases on the list independently, which was a big step up for me, and I felt very supported throughout. I have learnt so much from the wider scrub and admin teams and am incredibly grateful for all their support!” — Dr Rohan Shankarghatta, MBBS BSc (Hons) PgCert (Dist) ST1 Resident Doctor The Mentor’s View “Rohan began his ophthalmology journey at CHEC Blackpool, starting his phacoemulsification training from the very beginning. From the outset, it was clear that he possessed an exceptional eagerness to learn and a genuine commitment to developing his surgical skills. I was particularly impressed by how quickly he absorbed feedback and translated it into practice. Today, I have complete confidence in his ability to perform cataract surgery independently across a wide range of case complexities. Watching his development has been a pleasure, and I have no doubt that he has an extremely bright future ahead of him. I am certain he will continue to grow into an outstanding ophthalmic surgeon and make a significant contribution to the specialty.” — Moemen Elnawawy, Regional Surgical Lead at CHEC Dr Rohan Shankarghatta’s milestone highlights the vital role CHEC plays in supporting the North West Deanery and the wider NHS workforce. By providing an environment that balances rigorous surgical challenges with warm, comprehensive clinical backing, CHEC continues to successfully empower the next generation of ophthalmic surgeons to deliver exceptional, independent patient care.