The neurosurgeon driving medical innovation from the heart of the NHS
Prof. Keyoumars Ashkan MBE
Trained at the University of Wales, Professor Keyoumars Ashkan qualified as a doctor in 1993 and subsequently completed the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons. His specialisation in neurosurgery led him to train at leading centres in London & France, where he developed a strong interest in functional neurosurgery and neuro-oncology. In 2007, he was appointed Consultant Neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital, and later became Professor of Neurosurgery at King’s College London; he has also obtained a Doctor of Science degree.
He is currently one of the most prominent figures in neurosurgery in the United Kingdom and has been awarded the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to neurosurgery. The award, included in the 2025 New Year Honours list, recognises a career distinguished by scientific innovation, clinical excellence and unwavering commitment to patients.
Professor Ashkan is regarded as a world leader in the surgical treatment of brain tumours and complex neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). His work encompasses cutting-edge techniques including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), image and laser-guided surgery and the use of advanced technologies such as awake surgery, brain mapping, Gamma Knife and CyberKnife. Among his most renowned cases are the removal of a brain tumour while the patient played the violin and DBS for PD when the patient played the clarinet— procedures designed to preserve patients’ musical abilities.
In addition to his clinical practice, he leads research projects on genomics of brain tumours and innovative therapies in functional neurosurgery. He is Past President of the British Society for Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery and serves on several leading international scientific bodies in his field. Under his leadership, the neuro-oncology service at King’s College Hospital was designated a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence in 2021, in recognition of its outstanding quality of care and therapeutic innovation.
Professor Ashkan has published hundreds of scientific articles and has contributed to the editing of specialist books. His teaching activities and involvement in training programmes for new generations of neurosurgeons complement a career spanning more than two decades dedicated to improving patients’ lives.
Outside the operating theatre, Prof Ashkan pursues interests ranging from music and poetry to Latin dance. Also holding a degree in music, he has often emphasised that his artistic background helps him better understand the human dimensions of illness and connect with his patients from a more holistic perspective.
