Samir Pathak, Old Hymerian 1989-99 is an HBB surgeon from Leeds in the UK. From being born with an absent right fibula to playing for England Universities at cricket, to being told he lack the intelligence to complete a higher degree to Surgical Speciality Lead for the Pancreas with The Royal College of Surgeons of England/ AUGIS.

The family business has been medicine for several generations, but he has also been brought up immersed in the Indian culture of cricket and in his family's case, charity. In this truly fascinating interview, he discusses his early surgical career and training. This was impacted by having undergo multiple operations before the age of 10. He also describes another family passion which is cricket, where he almost made the first class level.

A truly challenging experience for him was being asked to Chair a committee, investigating the accusations of institutional racism in Yorkshire County Cricket Club. To call that task, a poisoned chalice would be an understatement, but he speaks quite openly about the experience, both good and bad, including the inevitable frustrations of political interference and how it has guided his future approach in his work life as well as outside. His grandfather and father have been involved in a tuberculosis treatment charity in India which is still helping people today. For his part, Samir has established a charity that brings the most under privileged children possible to the UK within a cricket environment in a way that truly changes the direction of their lives.

Further reading

• Yorkshire Cricket Club
• Samir's Linked in profile