About us

The Newcastle Surgical Training Centre is led by the co-directorship of Professor Alan Horgan and Professor David Deehan.

The Newcastle Surgical Training Centre (The NSTC) was established in 2007 and is based at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. It is a leading centre for surgical education, innovation, and skills development. Over the years, the NSTC has built a strong national and international reputation for delivering high-quality cadaveric training, simulation, and advanced surgical education.

The NSTC brings together expert faculty from Newcastle Hospitals and leading national and international organisations. Through collaboration, research, and education, the Centre supports the advancement of surgical practice across a wide range of specialties. Today, the NSTC continues to play a key role in shaping the future of surgical training.

The NSTC provides healthcare professionals with access to a state-of-the-art training environment designed to support the safe adoption of new techniques and technologies. Its high-specification facilities enable hands-on learning in realistic clinical settings, helping surgeons develop their skills and improve patient care. The Centre is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). This licence allows the Centre to deliver cadaveric education and training in accordance with the highest ethical and regulatory standards.

Our Team

Clinical Director

Professor Alan Horgan

Consultant Colorectal Surgeon

Alan Horgan graduated from University College Cork in 1988. Following Basic Surgical Training, he completed his MD in Surgical Immunology at Harvard Medical School.

Higher Surgical Training was undertaken in the West of Scotland Rotation following which he spent a year as Clinical Fellow in Colorectal Surgery at The Mayo Clinic. He was appointed as Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in 1999.

Clinical Director

Professor David Deehan

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Professor David Deehan has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with a specialist interest in revision and complex knee disorders at Newcastle Hospitals since 2000.

He completed his training in Newcastle, with time spent in Australia and Germany.

He holds degrees from Edinburgh (MBChB) Strathclyde (MSc) and Aberdeen (MD DSc) and is the chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Newcastle University.