University Assistant Professor in Healthcare Systems
University of Cambridge

Consultant Anaesthetist
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Research groups: International Health Systems, Health Systems Design
Interests: Global health, perioperative medicine, systems engineering, neurotrauma
Email: tb508@cam.ac.uk

Biography

• PhD Engineering: A Systems Approach to Global Health. University of Cambridge, 2021
• FRCA Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, 2014
• MRCP Member of the Royal College of Physicians, 2010
• MBBS Clinical Medicine. St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, 2007
• MBiochem (Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. University of Oxford, 2002

Tom is a practising Consultant Neuroanaesthetist in the NHS,  and a systems engineer whose research interest is in developing methods to understand complex systems in healthcare, particularly across cultural boundaries. The majority of his work is with colleagues based in resource-poor countries and spans trauma care, conflict, frugal technology development and the role of communities. However he also works with both NHS and other international groups, with a particular focus on building resilient systems which function equitably. 

Publications

ORCiD: 0000-0003-0228-9779
Google Scholar

Public engagement

2023 Big Careers, Small Children: How to Navigate Shared Parental Leave as a Dual Career Couple
Podcast for Leaders Plus, a social enterprise supporting talented men and women with young children so that they can progress in their leadership careers whilst at the same time enjoy their young family. (https://www.leadersplus.org.uk/121-big-careers-small-children-how-to-navigate-shared-parental-leave-as-a-dual-career-couple/)

2021 Healthcare systems: the future of global health Essay for the Coalition for Global Prosperity as part of the collection: The Future of Aid, Development in the 2020s. Published at Westminster Abbey, September 2021. https://www.coalitionforglobalprosperity.com/dr-tom-bashford

2021 Five Questions with…Dr Tom Bashford
Interview with THET exploring why expanding access to surgical care is so important, how we can ensure progress made towards health equity is not lost due to Covid-19, and what more needs to be done in this International Year of Health and Care Workers to ensure their voices remain heard.(https://www.thet.org/five-questions-with-dr-tom-bashford/)

2021 Trauma care in Myanmar: the bigger picture
Interviewed for the ‘Anaesthesia Compass’ podcast exploring different aspects of global anaesthesia (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/anaesthesia-compass/id1519510083).

2019 Partnership, collaboration, and working toward shared goals
Blog for THET exploring issues around collaboration within international health partnerships.
(https://www.thet.org/dr-tom-bashford-on-partnership-collaboration-and-working-towards-shared-goals/)

2016 ‘The Checklist Effect’
Interviewed for Lifebox film detailing international efforts to implement the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
http://www.lifebox.org/checklist-effect-big-screen/

2012 ‘Into Thin Air’
BMJ Blog in support of Lifebox BMJ Christmas Appeal 2012
http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2012/12/11/bmj-christmas-appeal-tom-bashford-into-thin-air/

2012 ‘Road to Safer Surgery’, Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Ababa
Produced in association with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Ethiopia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ4NrJJrP0Q

2012 ‘How to Implement the Safe Surgery Checklist’, Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Ababa
Produced in association with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Ethiopia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFG9ihbPT-A&feature=channel&list=UL

2012 Voluntary Service Overseas: Anaesthesia in Ethiopia
A video detailing some of the work of this placement can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWl8qau0glg&feature=youtu.be