Publish date: 24 June 2025
Ankur has more than 25 years’ experience across the NHS, military and humanitarian sectors, and has worked at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital for 25 years. He specialises in hand surgery including complex tendon and nerve reconstruction and other reconstructive procedures.
His military background includes four operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, helping establish the RAF Hospital staging unit, and numerous senior advisory and leadership roles within the Royal Air Force including Clinical Director of the Tactical Medical Wing and Associate Dean. He has also participated in more than 50 international humanitarian missions worldwide and dedicated his career towards advancing surgical standards, education and access to high-quality care on a global scale.
Lt Col Richard Yardley, Commanding Officer of Joint Hospital Group South said, “This distinguished honour is testament to Ankur’s exceptional achievements, unwavering dedication, and the significant impact he has made in his field. Such recognition is reserved for those who have demonstrated exemplary service and commitment, and it is clear that his contributions are not only deeply valued but have also set a standard of excellence for others to aspire to.”
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Ankur wasn’t aware he had been honoured until the day the full list was announced. Ankur said, “I woke up to a slightly obscure message from a colleague congratulating me and it was only after I received multiple messages that it hit home. I quickly scanned the honours list and after finding my name on it became emotional. The enormity of this honour has only just started to sink in.”
Ankur is a passionate educator and academic leader, having contributed to national curriculum development. He is a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Southampton University and holds visiting Professorships in Nepal and Romania.
Penny Emerit, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust said, “I would like to share my congratulations with Ankur for the incredible work he does not just here in Portsmouth, but globally helping improve access to vital health services to all. We are very proud and are delighted for Ankur to be recognised for his humanitarian work.”
Aside from providing much needed surgery to patients otherwise unable to access it, much of his humanitarian work has focused on teaching medical students, residents and others, in some of the most remote areas of the globe. A significant part of this work has been with Operation Smile, an international charity that supports and cares for people with cleft conditions and reconstructive surgery. Ankur has volunteered with the charity since 2006 helping bring his in demand skills to countries where access can be challenging if not impossible otherwise.
Ankur added, “The thing I am most proud of in my career has been operating on and caring for those people who otherwise would have no advocacy or voice. Many face poverty and are driven by the hope of a better future. Helping them and supporting others to do the same remains my guiding principle.”