Dr Shahzad Shah is a UK trained Consultant Urologist with nearly two decades of experience, with expertise in diagnosing and treating both benign and malignant urological conditions. His subspecialty interests are functional and female urology, the management of prostate-related conditions, and disorders of urinary flow. Dr Shahzad is passionate about both teaching and clinical research, and has numerous publications. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Intercollegiate Board in the UK, and the European Board of Urology. In October 2023, Dr Shahzad brought his skills and experience to King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, where he also continues his passion for teaching and mentoring junior doctors as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology for Gulf Medical University.
At Allocation Assist, we keep in touch with our doctors and always love to hear about their experiences and achievements. It was great to talk to Dr Shahzad in between his busy schedule.
Training and Why He Chose Urology
Dr Shahzad began his medical journey at Army Medical College, a prestigious armed forces medical school in Pakistan that offers one of the best medical training courses in the country. After graduation, he was required to work in the field for a few years before applying for specialist training. He knew he wanted to do surgery, but was not yet sure about the specialty.
He completed his General Surgery training in Pakistan before moving to England to complete the UK General Surgery Fellowship. During this time, his trainer and mentor was a Urology Consultant who became a key inspiration for him. In 2005, while working in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that affected Pakistan and the surrounding region, he met a Urologist from the UK, Professor Shamim Khan (now OBE), who encouraged him to apply for specialist Urology training.
He trained in London and the Southeast of England, working at Guy’s & St Thomas’ and Medway Maritime Hospitals NHS Trust. In 2012, he began a Fellowship in Functional and Reconstructive Urology at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds. During his training, he had teaching and mentorship from some of the leading Urologists in the UK, in particular Professor Shamim Khan, Ian Eardley, and Neil Harris.
After completing his consultant training and being accepted onto the specialist register of the GMC, he was appointed as a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Southend University Hospitals NHS Trust, and then at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2014. At West Herts, he led the Urology Core Functional and Female Urology and Urodynamics Unit, and was also departmental lead for governance and risk.
Subspecialty Interests
Dr Shahzad’s training and experience cover a wide range of urological conditions, from urinary tract infections to complex urological surgeries. His subspecialty fellowship in Leeds was in functional urology and urodynamics, focusing on bladder dysfunction that may cause difficulty in either passing or retaining urine. His special interests are in female incontinence and the treatment of prostate-related issues for men.
He also brings expertise in a relatively new minimally invasive surgical treatment for benign prostate enlargement, called Rezūm steam therapy. This uses the natural energy found in steam to shrink the prostate while minimising any effect on surrounding tissues. The procedure involves injecting bursts of sterile steam, targeted to shrink enlarged areas of the prostate, which reduces pressure on the urethra and improves urinary flow. It has been shown to be very successful in reducing the need for either surgery or medication, along with the side effects that come with them.
Why Dubai and Why King’s College Hospital
For Dr Shahzad, working in Dubai gives him the opportunity to easily visit family in Pakistan, particularly his mother, who is facing some health issues. After many years working in the NHS, he was looking for a change and a new challenge, so he took a sabbatical to experience a different country and health system.
The UAE, he says, is a relatively young country with a growing population and a clear vision for the future. There is an excitement here for innovation and new opportunities. It also offers the ability to save more for retirement, as there is no income tax. He adds that he would not have found the whole process so easy without the advice and service from the team at Allocation Assist, who helped him get his licence to practise here quickly and connected him with the top tier hospitals in Dubai.
He was very happy to be interviewed and to receive an offer at King’s College Hospital Dubai. KCH Dubai has strong connections with its parent hospital, King’s College Hospital in London, so there is a lot that is familiar from the British system. There is collaboration from KCH London for the liver transplant service, and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are held to discuss difficult or complex cases.
It is also, he says, a lovely environment to work in, both in terms of the hospital building and facilities, and the friendliness and helpfulness of all the staff. There is a supportive atmosphere among his colleagues from different countries, including many from the UK. The hospital offers teaching opportunities as well as continuing medical education (CME) courses, and has plans for expansion, including a new oncology centre, with construction work on a hospital extension to begin soon.
The Experience of Working in Dubai
Dr Shahzad enjoys the work in Dubai. He finds it less stressful and says he has more independence and choice in his practice. He shares the on-calls with two other Urology Consultants.
There has been some adjustment required to a different system and culture, especially working with medical insurance companies and applying for pre-approvals. It took a few months to build up his patient base, but he has become very busy since. Networking and getting to know other specialists has helped, so they can refer to each other when needed. By far the most important way new patients come in is by word of mouth, from recommendations from other patients. The hospital is also seeing a growing number of international patients from the Middle East and North Africa region and further afield.
Continuing His Involvement in Teaching and Research
At King’s College Hospital Dubai, undergraduate medical students from Gulf Medical University come for training, and Dr Shahzad has been appointed as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology for the university. The hospital also has residents, and runs revision courses in Dubai for the Royal College examinations in the UK. He says he learns from teaching others too.
He plans to continue his involvement in research, and as part of the Medical University faculty, he will be supervising students and residents who are carrying out their research projects.
Lifestyle in the United Arab Emirates
Dubai, in Dr Shahzad’s words, is a very special place. The culture is welcoming and hospitable for people who come here from all over the world, and there is something for every taste and every culture.
While he is busy at work, he is also able to make the most of his free time. As Dubai is a major travel hub, it makes it easier to visit family or have them come to him. Alongside spending time with his family, he enjoys photography and social events.
Advice for Consultants Thinking of Coming to Dubai
For consultants considering the move, Dr Shahzad describes Dubai as a good place to explore yourself. Living and working here grows you, he says. Moving to a new place will always require some adjustment, but if you are motivated, ambitious, and dedicated to your patients, the rewards outweigh the challenges.
His practical advice is to do your research and get good advice. Things can move fast after the interview, once an offer is made, so it pays to be prepared in advance. He highly recommends Emilie and her team at Allocation Assist, saying the honest advice, guidance, and support they provided was invaluable.
How Allocation Assist Supports Doctors Relocating to the UAE
Relocating internationally as a doctor means working through several stages, from licensing and job placement to settling into a new healthcare system and helping your family settle in. Allocation Assist streamlines this process with structured support at each stage.
Key Areas of Assistance
- Licensing and regulatory navigation, guiding physicians through credentialing requirements specific to the UAE.
- Role identification and placement, matching specialists with positions aligned to their clinical expertise and career objectives.
- Relocation and family logistics, coordinating practical elements to ensure a seamless move for the entire family.
- Ongoing support, keeping in touch with relocated doctors, following their experiences and achievements in their new roles.
For internationally trained specialists like Dr Shahzad, that support makes the move into the UAE healthcare system smoother, letting them focus on patient care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dr Shahzad Shah’s background and qualifications?
Dr Shahzad is a UK trained Consultant Urologist with nearly two decades of experience. He graduated from Army Medical College, Pakistan, completed his General Surgery training in Pakistan, then moved to the UK to complete the UK General Surgery Fellowship. He trained in Urology in London and the Southeast of England at Guy’s & St Thomas’ and Medway Maritime Hospitals NHS Trust, and completed a Fellowship in Functional and Reconstructive Urology at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Intercollegiate Board in the UK, and the European Board of Urology.
Where does Dr Shahzad work in the UAE?
He works at King’s College Hospital London in Dubai as a Consultant Urologist. He is also Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology for Gulf Medical University.
What are his subspecialty interests?
His subspecialty interests include functional and female urology, urodynamics, the management of prostate-related conditions, and disorders of urinary flow. He also has expertise in Rezūm steam therapy, a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostate enlargement.
What is Rezūm steam therapy?
Rezūm steam therapy is a minimally invasive surgical treatment for benign prostate enlargement. It uses bursts of sterile steam, targeted to shrink enlarged areas of the prostate, which reduces pressure on the urethra and improves urinary flow. It has been shown to reduce the need for either surgery or medication, along with the side effects that come with them.
Why did Dr Shahzad relocate to Dubai?
He wanted a new challenge after many years in the NHS, and Dubai also makes it easier for him to visit family in Pakistan, particularly his mother. He was drawn by the UAE’s young, growing healthcare system, vision for innovation, and the chance to save more without income tax.
How has Dr Shahzad found working at King’s College Hospital Dubai?
He describes it as a supportive, collaborative environment with strong links to King’s College Hospital London, including MDT meetings and shared input on complex cases. He enjoys more independence in his practice and finds the work less stressful than the NHS.
How does he continue his teaching and research work in Dubai?
As Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology for Gulf Medical University, he teaches undergraduate medical students and residents at King’s College Hospital Dubai, runs revision courses for Royal College examinations, and supervises student and resident research projects.
What advice does he give to consultants considering the move?
He says Dubai is a good place to grow personally and professionally. His advice is to be motivated, ambitious, and dedicated to your patients, to do your research, and to get good advice in advance, since things can move fast after an offer is made. He highly recommends working with the team at Allocation Assist.
