Ashley Cole wrote his first thesis on spinal deformity whilst a medical student in Nottingham. His basic and higher surgical training was in Sheffield. Fellowships in spinal surgery were in Nottingham, Brisbane and Las Vegas.

I was a medical student in Nottingham and did my basic surgical training in Nottingham and Sheffield. My higher surgical training in Orthopaedics was in Sheffield with the exception of three Spinal Fellowships in Nottingham, Brisbane and Las Vegas. I only see patients (adults and children) with Spinal problems, giving a full-time NHS commitment at both Sheffield Childrens Hospital and the Northern General Hospital. I have an interest in outcome evaluation and research. I have completed two theses on spinal deformity (idiopathic scoliosis), the first of these as a medical student. We have recently completed a Spinal Database to allow us to prospectively collect outcome data on all the patients we see. I am an active member of the British Scoliosis Society, British Association of Spinal Surgeons, British Orthopaedic Association and the British Association of Clinical Anatomists (Member of Council).