Consultant Urologist and Andrologist, Miss Michelle Christodoulidou, is among the 25 surgeons featured in an exhibition of photography which celebrates the contribution of women working in surgery across the UK.
Insight: Portraits of Women in Surgery is currently on display at the Hunterian Museum, within the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in London. The exhibition celebrates women across different surgical specialities, career stages, and regions. All of those featured are members of the Women in Surgery Network, a national initiative dedicated to enabling and inspiring women to fulfil their career ambitions.
Offering an intimate and contemporary look at surgical life, the portraits are set in environments reflective of surgical work, and were taken by NHS colleagues. Miss Christodoulidou’s portrait for the exhibition was taken by Medical Photographer, Tara Molloy, who has been a photographer at UHL for more than 20 years.
Miss Christodoulidou has been a consultant surgeon at UHL since 2024, specialising in penile cancer and reconstructive surgery. She said: “Being featured in this exhibition has given me an immense sense of pride. This exhibition has brought together surgeons from across the UK from different surgical specialties and backgrounds in an evening of celebration and camaraderie. It’s been a great honour, and only possible with the encouragement and beautiful work by Tara.
“Surgery is a constantly evolving field of medicine, and there is a place for any doctor that wishes to take on this challenge.
“Our featured portrait in the exhibition was taken in our main theatres at the Leicester General Hospital. The operating room is the most sacred space we work in as surgeons. Patient counselling and a multidisciplinary review of each case is just a snapshot of the work that happens behind the scenes, weeks before the day of surgery.
“As a penile cancer supra-regional centre, we carry out surgery for this complex group of patients, which is only possible due to the existing expertise of our local team.”
Tara Molloy added: “It was an incredible honour to be part of this exhibition celebrating female surgeons, while also highlighting the vital supporting role of clinical photography. I have immense respect for Miss Christodoulidou’s dedication to supporting patients with cancer.
“Visiting such a prestigious setting as the Hunterian Museum to see my photograph on display was a truly special moment. I was joined by my dad, Willie Molloy, who supported me throughout my photography studies, and so sharing this achievement with him meant the world.”
The exhibition “Portraits of Women in Surgery” is on display at the Hunterian Museum until 18 April 2026. Entry is free. For more information, visit https://hunterianmuseum.org/exhibitions/insight-portraits-of-women-in-surgery.