Mr Stephen Ward is a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. He specialises in laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and general surgery procedures such as hernia repair. He also has a particular interest in the management of anal fistula disease and serves on the Proctology Committee of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI).

Mr Ward graduated in Medicine from St George’s Hospital, London, in 2003, achieving distinction in clinical sciences and a first-class honours degree in Basic Medical Sciences. He went on to complete his basic surgical training in Kent and South London, followed by higher surgical training in the West Midlands. During this time, he undertook a PhD in Cancer Immunology at the University of Birmingham, focusing on the selective recruitment of regulatory T cells to colorectal cancer. His research was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council (MRC), cancer charities, and the University of Birmingham.

Towards the end of his training, Mr Ward was awarded a travelling fellowship to the University Medical Centre of Amsterdam, where he learned advanced techniques in rectal cancer surgery. He was appointed as a Consultant Surgeon in 2018, and since then has developed a busy surgical practice alongside ongoing research and teaching.

In addition to his clinical work, Mr Ward has led large-scale data analysis projects, including national studies on colonoscopy training and outcomes. He also develops systems for monitoring colorectal surgery performance at University Hospitals Birmingham. As colorectal audit lead, he chairs monthly audit and outcomes meetings, supervises junior and senior trainees, and is a registered trainer with the GMC.

Mr Ward is known for his academic insight, technical precision, and commitment to patient-centred care, ensuring every patient receives evidence-based, transparent, and compassionate treatment.