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Oryon Academy Spinal Symposium 2026

Date and time

Thursday 23rd April

09:00 - 17:00

Speaker

Oryon Academy Spinal Symposium Speakers

Consultants Of Various Specialities

Location

Royal Society of Medicine

1 Wimpole Street, London

W1G 0AE

Price

£150

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Oryon Academy Spinal Symposium 2026

Why this is the spinal event of the year

The Oryon Academy Spinal Symposium 2026 brings together leading spinal surgeons, radiologists and MSK specialists for a full day of evidence-based talks, real-world case discussions and practical learning you can apply in clinic the next morning.

Across the day, you’ll:

  • Hear from expert spinal clinicians on the latest thinking in diagnosis, imaging and management
  • Work through real case studies that reflect the patients you see every week
  • Contributes towards your CPD 
  • Network with peers, referrers and the wider Oryon clinical community
  • Enjoy refreshments throughout the day in a central London setting

As Oryon’s flagship in-person event, the Symposium will also be the first place to hear about new developments, exclusive offers and what’s coming next for Oryon – with a few surprises reserved just for delegates.

Provisional Programme

The Oryon Academy Spinal Symposium 2026 brings together leading spine surgeons, sports medicine specialists and musculoskeletal clinicians to explore practical approaches to spinal diagnosis, imaging and management.

Each session includes approximately 30 minutes of presentation followed by a 10-minute audience Q&A.

The day will be chaired by Mr Bob Chatterjee, guiding discussion, facilitating panel sessions and ensuring a clinically focused programme throughout.


Provisional Symposium Agenda

Each talk: 20 minutes + 15 minutes discussion

08:30 – Breakfast

09:00 – Welcome

Les Clarke – CEO & Founder

09:05 – Introduction

Mr Bob Chatterjee

09:10 – 09:45

Mr Caspar Aylott

Spinal problems, biomechanics, and a few surprises

09:45 – 10:20

Mr Michael Hess

Lumbosacral radiculopathy and when escalation is appropriate

10:20 – 10:55

Mr Dominic Cheetham & Mr Dan Hughes

The case for considering weight-bearing imaging in the understanding and diagnosis of low back pain

10:55 – 11:15 – Coffee Break (20 mins)

11:15 – 11:50

Mr Bob Chatterjee

Neck pain: Tips & Tricks for diagnosis and treatment options

11:50 – 12:25

Mr John Sutcliffe

The clinical use of MR spectroscopy in a busy spinal clinic – is this a back pain scan?

12:25 – 13:00

Mr Mo Akmal

Spinal Day Surgery – Advances in surgical techniques and benefits

13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch (60 mins)

14:00 – Introduction

Mr Bob Chatterjee

14:05 – 14:40

Dr Keith Bush

Prolotherapy – Regenerative soft tissue injection

14:40 – 15:15

Dr Nikos G. Malliaropoulos

Centralisation Phenomenon as a Clinical & Prognostic Tool in Mechanical Low Back Pain

15:15 – 15:50

Mr Rajiv Bajekal

Spinal Health – Osteoporosis and Lifestyle Medicine

15:50 – 16:10 – Break (20 mins)

16:10 – 16:45

Dr Nigel Kellow

Emerging techniques in the management of benign and malignant MSK pathology

16:45 – 17:20

Dr Naeem Ahmed

How Oryon can support your imaging needs for a successful clinical practice

17:20 – 17:55

Mr Bob Chatterjee

Belief, God, Psychology, Conspiracy – life lessons in Spine

17:55 – Closing Remarks

Will Corderoy – Referrer Relationship Manager


Additional Information

Professional filming and photography will take place throughout the day, and all sessions will be recorded.


Who is this for?

The Spinal Symposium is designed for practitioners who regularly assess, refer or manage patients with spinal conditions, including:

  • Spinal and orthopaedic surgeons
  • Neurosurgeons
  • MSK and spinal radiologists
  • Physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors
  • Pain medicine specialists
  • GPs with an extended role in MSK / FCPs / ESPs

If spinal cases are a core part of your practice, this day is for you.

Bob Chatterjee

Bob Chatterjee

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon |London

Mr Bob Chatterjee is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Chief of Spinal Surgery at The Hospital of St John’s & St Elizabeth's and Spinal Development Lead at The London Clinic. He is also Clinical Director of Harley Street Spine.

Nigel Kellow

Consultant In Spinal And Pain Medicine |London

Dr Nigel Kellow is a Consultant in Interventional Spine at Wellington Hospital Spine Unit in London. He specialises in urgent triage and treatment for spinal and neurological problems, and treats patients with persistent problems following surgery. He works closely with spinal and neurological surgeons across the South East.

Mo Akmal

Consultant Orthopaedic And Spinal Surgeon |London

Mr Mo Akmal 

MBBS(Hons) MD FRCS(Orth)

Mr Mo Akmal is a London-based consultant spinal surgeon and Medical Director of the London Spine 

Unit on Harley Street with almost three decades of experience treating complex spinal conditions. 

Graduating from Imperial College and completing his spinal fellowship training in Oxford, he is widely 

recognised as a pioneer in day surgery techniques for spinal surgery. He has developed techniques that 

avoid prolonged recovery traditionally associated with spinal operations, including complex revision, 

lumbar fusion and dynamic stabilisation procedures using advanced techniques that minimise tissue 

damage, reduce post-operative pain, and support faster recovery. His work spans a broad range of 

spinal conditions, and his extensive experience allows him to apply precise, modern surgical methods 

even in complex and revision cases. This combination of technical expertise, specialist knowledge, and 

clinical judgment has established him as a highly experienced spinal surgeon with a strong reputation 

for delivering effective, patient- focused care.

Michael Hess

|

G. Michael Hess, (FA Tr&Orth (Ger), MD, PhD)

Mr. G. Michael Hess is board-certified for orthopedic surgery and pain therapy. He 

graduated from Medical School at University Dusseldorf in 1995, completed his 

residency in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and at the Spine Center at Orthopaedische Klinik 

Muenchen-Harlaching. After a fellowship in spine surgery and interventional radiology 

at the University Hospital in Quebec City, Canada, he was appointed Lead of the Back 

Pain Center at Orthopaedische Klinik Muenchen-Harlaching in 2001. In 2003 Dr. Hess 

went into private practice as consultant for orthopaedic spine surgery at OCM -

Orthopedic Center Munich, where he was responsible for minimal-invasive spine 

surgery and interventional pain therapy until 2015.

In 2016 Dr. Hess founded InsightSpine, which is providing a comprehensive spinal disc 

pain service in London and Maidstone, Kent. He joined The London Spine Clinic in April 

2019.

Dr. Hess served as Master Instructor for Spine Intervention Society (SIS, USA) until 2022.

Dr. Hess is an internationally renowned expert in the field of minimal-invasive spine 

surgery and interventional pain therapy. He is lecturer of more than 150 scientific 

presentations and has been invited world wide as guest surgeon.

John Sutcliffe

Consultant Spinal Neurosurgeon |London

John Sutcliffe trained as an undergraduate in Edinburgh, gaining the year prize for systematic surgery and qualifying in 1983. His early medical post-graduate training was also in Edinburgh, after qualification, taking in a large number of specialties including plastic, orthopaedic and paediatric surgery before focusing on neurosurgery.

He undertook Neurosurgical training posts in Sheffield and London and developed an extensive experience of treating spinal conditions ranging from tumours and trauma to the commoner degenerative spinal conditions. He was appointed as a consultant neurosurgeon in 1993 and since that time has concentrated exclusively in the management of patients with spinal disorders.

He developed the concept of the multi-disciplinary team approach to spinal disorders, setting up the London Spine Clinic in 1997 and resigned from the NHS in 2000. He remains an Emeritus Consultant at Barts' and the London NHS Trust. The London Spine Clinic was the first unit of its kind in the UK and continues with the same philosophy today.

Mr Sutcliffe has trained young spinal surgeons, as training director in his NHS career and as supervisor for the spinal fellowship at the London Spine Clinic and London Clinic Hospital. He runs a regular teaching and training program within the Clinic, in both surgical and non-surgical aspects of spine care.

Contact details:
Ingrid Butler
I.Butler@thelondonclinic.co.uk
020 7616 7720
https://www.londonspineclinic.com

George Bownes

Consultant In Sports And Exercise Medicine |

Specialist in Sport and Musculoskeletal Medicine with experience across NHS, military and elite sport environments. Founder of Citius Health and former Tournament Physician at Wimbledon, he has worked with Olympic athletes and elite rugby teams.

Caspar Aylott

Consultant Spine Surgeon |London

Mr Caspar Aylott is a Consultant Spine Surgeon in London. He has extensive experience in all types of orthopaedic and spinal problems. Outside his direct clinical work Mr Aylott is passionate about high quality teaching, delivering many relevant, interesting and engaging talks.

Keith Bush

Consultant Orthopaedic & Sports Physician |London

After qualifying at the Royal Free Hospital, London in 1978, Dr Bush studied with James Cyriax to become an Orthopaedic Physician. He conducted a number of studies on the use of injection techniques in the management of spinal pain throughout the 80’s and 90’s, publishing in peer review journals such as ‘Spine’ and was awarded his Doctorate by London University in 1992. He has since been in private practice in Harley Street and The London Clinic since 1983. He held Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgical posts at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London in 1994 and 1995 and has been on the GMC Specialist Register since 1996. He was an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College from 2002 – 2005, and elected as a Founding Fellow of the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine in 2006.

Nikos Malliaropoulos

Sports And Exercise Medicine Consultant |

Dr Nikos Malliaropoulos is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine and Reader at Queen Mary University of London, practicing at the Sports Clinic of Bart’s Health NHS Trust and directing the Thessaloniki Sports Medicine Clinic. He previously served as Director of the Sports Medicine Clinic for the Hellenic National Track and Field Association (1986–2017) and Chief Medical Officer for the Hellenic Olympic Team at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. A Fellow of the UK Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine and founding member and current General Secretary of the European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians (ECOSEP), he combines extensive clinical, academic, and leadership experience. His expertise includes musculoskeletal injury diagnosis, rehabilitation, ultrasonography, and image-guided interventions, with emphasis on muscle, tendon, and bone stress injuries. He has authored approximately 100 peer-reviewed publications and maintains active involvement in teaching, research, and elite sport, informed by his background as a Balkan Judo Champion and senior coach.

Naeem Ahmed

Consultant Radiologist |London

Dr Na’eem Ahmed, Consultant Radiologist, graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Medical School with the St Thomas’ Hospital cup graduation prize and GKT Shield for outstanding contribution to the medical school. He served as the British Medical Association GKT ISC-Chair and President of the Student Medical Education Committee that represents the academic interests of over 2,000 medical students.


He completed academic foundation training at King’s College London, receiving the ‘outstanding trainee’ award whilst also serving as trainee representative for South Thames Foundation School. His research focused on the role of alveolar nitric oxide in sickle cell disease. He has also published and presented internationally on reducing health inequality and improving patient participation and access to health services.


Na’eem was recently appointed as a member of the editorial board for the Royal College of Physicians publication Clinical Medicine and also as a blogger for the Health Services Journal. He is currently a visiting Quality Improvement Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Honorary Research Fellow at King’s College London.


Passionate about innovation and an advocate for a patient-led NHS, Na’eem will be working at the NHS Commissioning Board alongside Professor Sir Bruce Keogh and Deputy Medical Director Professor Steve Field, helping to create a national strategy to reduce health inequalities.

  • Full access to the Oryon Spinal Symposium
  • Hours of CPD with certificate of attendance
  • Refreshments throughout the day
  • Access to post-event resources (slides and selected recordings, where available)
  • Eligibility for on-the-day offers and delegate-only updates

Places are limited to ensure a high-quality educational environment. Early booking is strongly recommended.

Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Sports Therapists, Hand Therapists, Radiographers, Occupational Therapists, GP, Public, Other Health Professionals, Trainee Health Professionals, Students

Buy now

Add to basket

Date and time

Thursday 23rd April

09:00 - 17:00

Price

£150

Speaker

Oryon Academy Spinal Symposium Speakers

Consultants Of Various Specialities

Location

Royal Society of Medicine

1 Wimpole Street, London

W1G 0AE