Medstars In Their Eyes | Mr Bruce Richard
You can no longer book an appointment with Mr Bruce Richard via Medstars. However, you can still learn more about Bruce and his role as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon from our Q&A below. If you’re looking for specialist reconstructive care, take a look at our specialists at the bottom of this page. Looking for extra guidance when it comes to your healthcare? Learn more about Medstars Medical Concierge Service.
Medstars had a lovely catch up with Mr Bruce Richard, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Birmingham.
A consultant plastic surgeon at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth, Bruce provides general plastic surgery practice as well as further specialising in the treatment of children, young people and adults with facial deformities as a result of cleft lip and palate or other birth defects.
He has a special interest in research projects, focusing on the cause and treatment of cleft lip and palate and facial nerve reconstruction. He holds an honorary senior lectureship at the University of Birmingham in order to supervise some of these research projects.
Despite some technical issues during our Skype call, Bruce’s warmth and eloquence meant we had a very enjoyable chat. Over to you Bruce…
My friends and family describe me as…
Energetic, fun and very interactive.
I love my job because…
I enjoy the interaction with my patients, trying to work out the emotional side of their problem as well as the physical issue that needs surgery. I work closely with my patients to try and put the two together. Plastic surgery is about changing someone’s sense of themselves as well as what they actually look like physically, so that intimate conversation exploring the two aspects is very important.
My greatest professional accomplishment is…
I spent 9 years in Nepal creating a department of plastic surgery for the government to treat burns, limb injuries and facial deformity (working with International Nepal Fellowship) I still have contact with them and I like to see how their lives have developed and their professional competencies have been important for Nepal.
If I wasn’t a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I would be a…
I would probably have focused on research, helping people change their lifestyle or their choices about how to live their lives better. And completing that process with some type of teaching, guiding people to cope with deformity and help them understand their physical condition.
My greatest achievement outside of work is…
My family. Being married for 34 years with 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren. I believe that this is more of a gift than an achievement, but you also have to work hard to build strong and long-lasting family relationships.
My favourite place to visit is…
The Lake District. We go hiking there every year in late Autumn. I don’t have the Himalaya anymore, so we go to the Lake District instead!
I’m inspired by…
Mr Ron W. Pigott, who is a famous, retired cleft lip and palate surgeon who inspired me to do research in cleft palate. He visited me in Nepal, encouraging me to explore how to get better results in cleft palate surgeries.
The best advice I have been given is…
Follow your heart, follow your emotions in making decisions about what to do. Allow your heart to have some effect on your head, in balancing both sides when making decisions.
Music that makes me happy includes…
I like emotional music and rock & roll, such as Adele and the Rolling Stones. I like the contrast between those two types of music.
I like Medstars because…
It’s keen to be relevant to patients, always trying to find a helpful doctor for each patient and case.
You can no longer book an appointment with Mr Bruce Richard via Medstars. However, you can book an appointment with one of our expert plastic surgeons below:
Birmingham Medstars Medical Concierge Service
Looking for extra guidance when it comes to your healthcare? Sometimes interpreting medical information and making the best decisions can be daunting and complicated. Our private medical concierge service provides easy access to top UK health experts. We guide our patients with genuine choice and trust, offering a bespoke service for anyone in the world seeking private UK healthcare. Learn more about Medstars Medical Concierge Service. Want to learn more about providing our medical concierge service as an employee benefit? Learn more about Medstars Medical Concierge for Business.