Since leaving Birmingham Kemel undertook a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Medical School, USA. He then left the USA to return to the Kelaniya Medical School to work as a lecturer in the department of surgery.
How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham?
After completing the Sri Lankan component of higher surgical training, I rose to Associate Professor and Chair in Surgery. My postgraduate degree gave me the confidence to work independently in research where my main thrust has been in pelvic floor research and research into large bowel cancer. Also, I have supervised a number of research fellows undertaking Masters and Doctoral research. The research publications during my work for the MD thesis helped me a great deal in selection to the Chair of Surgery.
What is the best thing about the job you are doing now?
Teaching postgraduates and putting my research into practice.
What did you think were the best points of the course and the University?
Friendly and supportive inter-disciplinary relations with other departments, excellent facilities at the Library and in general, the overall positive attitude of colleagues at the University.
What advice would you give to current students studying on the course?
Learn to manage your time from the commencement of the course and set out a weekly list of ‘things to do’.
How did you grow as a person by studying at University? Did it change your life in any way?
Yes it changed my life. The course made me grow in confidence as a public speaker, it sharpened my critical thinking and made me focus on how I could improve the way I operated on my patients.