Karishma Chandarana
Specialty Trainee Doctor in Cardiothoracic Surgery
NHS Fellow in Clinical AI
Fellowship Bio
I am a cardiothoracic surgery resident and NHS Fellow in Clinical AI (Cohort 4). I am passionate about combining clinical practice with artificial intelligence to develop practical, safe and evidence-based innovations that improve NHS pathways and patient care.
Fellowship Project
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
The aim of my NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI project was to support the safe deployment and evaluation of an AI chest x-ray tool, Harrison.ai CXR, across University Hospitals of Leicester. The project aimed to demonstrate how AI can be successfully integrated into routine clinical practice supporting clinicians when interpreting chest x-rays, while maintaining high standards of clinical safety, governance and patient care. Working alongside fellow NHS Fellow in Clinical AI, Connor Huggins, I contributed to every stage of the project, from implementation through to evaluation and future sustainability. During the first half of the Fellowship, I focused on the governance and clinical safety processes required before the AI tool could be introduced into clinical practice. I worked closely with clinicians, digital teams, IT specialists and clinical safety officers to ensure the technology met NHS standards for safe implementation. I also developed educational resources, delivered teaching sessions, organised a Trust-wide launch event and worked with the Communications Team to promote awareness of the project. The second half of the Fellowship focused on understanding the impact of the AI tool in real-world clinical practice. I developed a structured feedback process for clinicians, and led two service evaluations: one assessing whether the AI could have identified important abnormalities in historical learning event cases, and another exploring its impact on clinician confidence, decision-making and day-to-day practice. The successful deployment of Harrison.ai CXR marked an important milestone for the Trust. Looking ahead, I am contributing to the business case for continued investment while supporting deployment and evaluation of other AI products.
Fellowship Testimonial
The NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI has given me the opportunity to learn about every stage of the AI lifecycle firsthand; from product development, to adoption, deployment and post-market evaluation. It has transformed my understanding of how AI can be safely integrated into clinical practice while strengthening my ability to critically evaluate its use. The fellowship bootcamp and national roadshows were definite highlights. The simulated deployment exercises, Clinical Safety Officer training and opportunities to network with Fellows across the country were invaluable. Learning from internationally recognised leaders, including Professor Eric Topol and Dr Keith Grimes, reinforced the importance of collaboration and shared learning in driving innovation across the NHS. Beyond developing my understanding of AI, the Fellowship strengthened skills that will remain valuable throughout my career. I gained confidence in project management, stakeholder engagement and leadership by navigating unfamiliar challenges and working with multidisciplinary teams across clinical, digital, operational and industry settings. It also taught me the importance of adaptability, resilience and lateral thinking when implementing change in complex healthcare environments. I have gained a strong appreciation for the value of frontline clinical experience in digital innovation. As a cardiothoracic surgery trainee, understanding patient pathways and clinical practice enables me to identify where AI can deliver meaningful improvements and where it is unlikely to add value. The Fellowship has inspired me to continue to combine my clinical career with digital innovation - developing practical, evidence-based AI solutions that improve patient care and support clinicians across the NHS.
