Mr W. James Smellie

Surgeon.
Scholar.
Specialist.

Cambridge-educated and internationally trained, Mr Smellie brings over 24 years of consultant experience to every patient he treats at Cleveland Clinic London.

Mr W. James Smellie
Career History

Training & Experience

1984
University of Cambridge
Graduated with BA MB BChir with Honours in Medicine from the University of Cambridge. Completed USA foreign medical examinations concurrently.
1988
London Teaching Hospitals
Surgical training at St Thomas's Hospital London, St George's Hospital London, the Royal Postgraduate Medical School Hammersmith, and the Royal Marsden Hospital London.
1990
International Training — USA
Advanced surgical training at the Medical College of Virginia and The Mayo Clinic, USA — two of the world's most prestigious surgical institutions.
1992
FRCS — Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
Awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (General Surgery), the highest surgical qualification in the United Kingdom.
1993
MD (Cambridge) — Research Doctorate
Awarded a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Cambridge for research conducted at the Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Marsden Hospital London.
2000–present
Consultant Surgeon — Chelsea & Westminster
Lead Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeon at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for over 24 years.
2022–present
Cleveland Clinic London
Now exclusively treating private patients at Cleveland Clinic London — consulting at Portland Place and Moorgate (City of London), and operating at the main hospital at 33 Grosvenor Place, Belgravia.
Credentials

Qualifications & Memberships

01
BA MB BChir with Honours
University of Cambridge — undergraduate medical degree awarded with Honours
02
MD (Cambridge)
Research Doctorate from the University of Cambridge — awarded for cancer immunology research at the Royal Marsden Hospital
03
FRCS (Gen Surg)
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England — the highest qualification in general surgery
04
BUPA Platinum Recognised
Recognised by BUPA at Platinum level — the highest tier of recognition for private surgeons in the UK
05
BAETS Member
British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons — active member and regular conference contributor
06
British Hernia Society
Member of the British Hernia Society with a specialist interest in robotic and redo hernia surgery
Professional Practice

Research, Publications & Expertise

Mr Smellie's research has been widely published in peer-reviewed medical journals covering endocrine disease and cancer-related topics. He regularly attends national and international conferences to ensure his practice reflects the very latest evidence and techniques.

His two principal areas of expertise are robotic hernia surgery and endocrine surgery — both available at Cleveland Clinic London. In robotic hernia surgery, Mr Smellie uses the Da Vinci robotic system to achieve levels of precision and dexterity not possible with conventional laparoscopy, enabling complex repairs including abdominal wall divarication.

In endocrine surgery, Mr Smellie treats the full spectrum of thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal disease — including thyroid cancer, multinodular goitres, hyperparathyroidism, phaeochromocytoma and adrenal tumours. Adrenal surgery is now performed using the Da Vinci robotic system.

Areas of Specialist Expertise
Robotic inguinal, femoral, umbilical and incisional hernia repair
Post-pregnancy abdominal wall reconstruction and rectus divarication
Thyroid surgery including thyroid cancer and goitre
Parathyroid surgery for hyperparathyroidism
Da Vinci robotic adrenal surgery
Thyrotoxicosis and Graves' disease
24+Years as Consultant Surgeon
2Principal Surgical Specialties
Da VinciRobotic Surgical System
CCLCleveland Clinic London
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Ready to Meet Mr Smellie?

Mr Smellie sees both insured and self-pay patients from the UK and abroad at Cleveland Clinic London.

0800 098 1942
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