This commonly heard statement, perhaps question, regularly punctuates conversations with those outside, and sometimes within, the field of clinical anatomy. Indeed, there is a widely held perception that everything is already known about body structure and how best to apply, document and propagate this knowledge. After all, who are we to question the ways of our predecessors, the giants within our field, and how could we possibly advance thousands of years of anatomical research, study and education? Working on these assumptions my job should be simple, formulaic, repetitive and frankly dull - so why isn’t it?

This Leading Lights talk will provide an insight into my influences, interest and drivers, and how thinking differently and challenging the norm has provided opportunities to advance a field perceived by many to be stagnant.

My work primarily focusses on medical and surgical education and standards at national and international levels. I currently hold the positions of Professor of Clinical Anatomy and Imaging (University of Warwick), Applied Surgical Anatomy Lead (Royal College of Surgeons of England), Accreditation Board Member (Caribbean Medical Accreditation Authority), Quality Assurance and Operations Group member (Royal College of Surgeons of England) and Co-Chair of the International Clinical Anatomical Terminology Committee (American Association of Clinical Anatomists). I am one of ten internationally selected section editors for the reference text ‘Gray’s Anatomy’, have authored and published two British Medical Association award winning texts and sit on the editorial board of the journals Clinical Anatomy and Translational Research in Anatomy. My areas of special interest and research are surface anatomy, child anatomy and anatomy relevant to advancing interventional and surgical practice.