Dr Ramai Santhirapala

Council Member

Qualifications
FRCA, FFICM, FHEA

Term of office on Council
March 2021 to 2027

Hospital
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London

Biography
Dr Ramai Santhirapala qualified from University College London (UCL), and undertook her dual certified UK training in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine in East Anglia and London. She was appointed as a Consultant Anaesthetist and Perioperative Medicine Lead at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in 2018, alongside an Honorary Associate Professor at UCL.

During her time as an anaesthetist, Ramai has published in the remit of novel devices, perioperative care and shared decision making. She has worked closely with the College since 2015 through her role at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. She has a keen interest in ensuring healthcare decisions are made in partnership with patients (‘no decision about me, without me’) and has represented anaesthesia at the national and international level within this remit.

Ramai joins the College as a Council member at an unprecedented time of a global pandemic; one that has not only highlighted the brilliance of the specialty of anaesthesia but also the challenges. She is a firm advocate that workforce wellbeing lies at the heart of high quality patient care. As someone who remains rooted in Sri Lankan culture, Ramai believes an inclusive and diverse workforce brings opportunities, fresh perspectives and creative solutions.

Outside medicine, Ramai is a keen writer and is a correspondent for the international magazine Hinduism Today and is an occasional blogger. She enjoys yoga, hiking and is an amateur veena player.

Register of Interests

Clinical Advisor, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
NHS England Clinical Entrepreneur
Reviewer, British Journal of Anaesthesia
Employee of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust