Professor Malcolm John Underwood obtained his MB ChB from the University of Leicester in 1987 and subsequently his FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1991. This was followed by a Doctorate of Medicine in 1994 and the FRCS (CTh) four years later.

Professor Underwood’s scientific contributions led to him being awarded The Ronald Edwards Medal by the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland in 1993; and The Cardiac Research Club Prize for 1992 and 1993. In 1997, he was awarded several other prizes, most prestigious, the Francis Fontan Prize from the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons for an International Clinical Fellowship in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Luc Hospital Brussels along with a Research Fellowship from the University of Louvain (Brussels), and a travelling scholarship from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

He has been a Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery for over 15 years and was appointed as Senior Lecturer/Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Bristol Heart Institute in 1999 and subsequently NHS Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary from 2002. Over the years, he has held several positions of responsibility including the Programme Director for Cardiothoracic Surgery and Chairman of the Specialist Training Committee in the United Kingdom (UK) South West Region; and Research and Development Leader for the United Bristol Healthcare Trust, UK. He was Audit Lead and subsequently Clinical Governance representative for Cardiac Surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK during his time as a Consultant. In 2005 he was appointed as Head of Cardiac Surgery at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and in 2007 as Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, CUHK, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. His commitment to training in surgery has resulted in the Division hosting several International Fellows including those sponsored by prestigious scholarships’ from the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland. In 2012 he was awarded the Distinguished Surgeon Award from the College of Surgeons of Singapore to reflect his contribution to advancement of surgery there.

In addition, Professor Underwood is Chairman of Specialty Group in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hong Kong, Chairman of the Cardiothoracic Board, the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong and is Professor, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

His clinical interests are centered on aortic surgery, valvular surgery, valve repair, in addition to clinical audit and training.