OptoHealth

Meet the Optomists

The Team

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 1 Subhash Mishra Image 3 Image 4 Mubashar Rasheed Waleed Ali Leon Atkins

Sami Nur FRSA

CEO & Co-founder

Sami, our digital health guru, brings 15+ years of leadership in both NHS and private sectors. A true innovator, Sami wears many hats – NHS Innovation Fellow, global health advisor, and a digital health expert. As if that's not enough, Sami is also pursuing a part-time Masters in Healthcare Data at the University of Cambridge.

The Team

Sami Nur FRSA

CEO & Co-founder

Sami, our digital health guru, brings 15+ years of leadership in both NHS and private sectors. A true innovator, Sami wears many hats – NHS Innovation Fellow, global health advisor, and a digital health expert. As if that's not enough, Sami is also pursuing a part-time Masters in Healthcare Data at the University of Cambridge.

Edd Royal

Chief Product Officer & Co-founder

Meet Edd, our dynamic entrepreneur who's all about cutting-edge digital tech. He's the driving force behind Opto, fueled by his love for innovation and attention to detail. Edd has an extensive background in technology and digital marketing. Prior to founding Opto, Edd ran a successful London based digital agency (AmpTech) for 9 years. He was formerly CTO at Axius Global and lead IT for Neosurf. In his earlier career, Edd founded Sound Tribe Live and became the streaming partner for the Prince's Trust, Twitter and American Express.

Krista Burslam-Dawe

Chief Operating Officer

Introducing Krista, chaos is her canvas, and she turns it into organized masterpieces. With a passion for making triage smoother than buttered toast, Krista keeps our digital solution running seamlessly, even dressing the part. Fun Fact: She conquered her fear of heights by being winched onto a Portuguese trawler from a helicopter to attend a patient.

Dr Kevin Enright

Chief Clinical Officer

Kevin wears many hats, serving as a Consultant in adult and pediatric emergency medicine at St. George's University Hospital in London and as a helicopter emergency medicine consultant in Kent, Surrey & Sussex. He's a digital health expert, having led clinical governance and patient safety initiatives using technology. Previously, he was the clinical lead for Major Trauma at Sidra Hospital in Qatar, chaired the Pan London Paediatric Major Trauma Group, and has numerous published articles in prominent journals on emergency medicine and complex cases.

Chris Burslam-Dawe

Director of Implementation & Strategy Delivery

Chris kickstarted his career by diving into the Royal Navy straight out of school in 2001. He became a Submarine Warfare Officer, exploring the deep seas on operational patrols worldwide. After his naval adventures, Chris leaped into the world of Management Consulting, leading technology and business transformations for clients ranging from Blue Light to Central Government. At our company, he's the strategy mastermind and the guardian of exceeding customer expectations in a way that makes business feel like a thrilling journey.

Max Freeman

Clinical Director

Meet Max, our healthcare trailblazer! His adventure began at just seventeen as a Hospital Assistant in Eastbourne. With over two decades in the field, he's become a patient flow wizard. Max's passion was kindled at Kings College Hospital, a UK trauma epicenter, where he honed his triage skills. After that he became Head of Nursing for Community Care at Newcross Healthcare Solutions. Now, as our Clinical Director, he's the captain of clinical governance, development, and assurance, making healthcare a thrilling journey at Opto Health.

Subhash Mishra

Commercial Director

As the son of two NHS doctors, Subhash is proud to help drive growth at Opto Health as Commercial Director. Subhash has a track record in delivering scalable, repeatable growth globally for multiple category leading organisations. For example, entering 5 new healthcare verticals at Doctify (global healthcare reputation management platform); Tinder (global partnerships with technology and financial services businesses) and First Rail (grew digital revenues by 67% to £276m p.a.) As Commercial Director, Subhash leads our GTM Strategy and works with our talented team to originate and account manage new partnerships.

Elliot Higgins

Product Owner & Quality Assurance Lead

Elliot, our seasoned Live Music Tour Manager with over a 15 years experience, knows how to rock and roll. He also dabbled in biodiesel startup magic, turning barren lands into green treasure troves. Now, Elliot's leading the charge to make sure our product is not just top-notch but also fun and easy for patients to use.

John Arriola

Director of Global Business Partnerships

Introducing John, a master in business relationships with a knack for nurturing partnerships and corporate accounts. With over two decades in IT, he's a seasoned pro in various domains like IT, Unified Communication, Industrial Automation, and Cloud Services. His global experience across EMEA has fueled remarkable revenue growth for companies. John thrives on motivation and consistently crushes ambitious goals and targets.

Mubashar Rasheed

Engineering Director

Mubashar has over 10 years experience working in tech and product development having completed hundreds of successful projects across multiple sectors. Trained as a software engineer and a tech enthusiast, Mubashar has a deep understanding of technological processes and is passionate about creating innovative, disrupter solutions.

Waleed Ali

Technical Lead

Waleed is a versatile Technical Lead specializing in Agile development. He excels at leading multidisciplinary teams, delivering high-quality products, and driving continuous improvement through innovative solutions. Waleed is passionate about collaborating on transformative projects and exceeding customer expectations.

Leon Atkins

Data Protection Officer

Leon and his team at Impact Privacy help businesses in Life Sciences and Digital Health effectively manage privacy commitments, obligations, and risks. Their multi-disciplinary team has deep knowledge and practical experience from successfully managing privacy in the healthcare space. Impact Privacy bring expertise in privacy, legal, risk, operations, ethics, and information security and have a multi-national approach with international capabilities, underpinned by a presence in the EU, North America, and the UK. Leon Atkins is Opto Health’s Data Protection Officer.

Our Advisors

Prof. Matthew Cooke PhD Pic
Martin Taylor Pic Sir David Sloman

Prof. Matthew Cooke PhD

CEOFRCEM FRCS(Ed) FRCP FFCI

Chairman

Matthew is an internationally recognised expert in quality improvement and service redesign in emergency care & Times top 100 UK doctors. He has been involved in influencing, writing and implementing national policy in emergency healthcare. Throughout his career Matthew has held influential roles across all areas of emergency care including advisor to Prime Ministers Delivery Unit, Clinical Director at the NHS Improvement, Senior Responsible Officer for NHS Pathways & most recently Chief Clinical Officer, Capgemini UK.

Our Advisors

Prof. Matthew Cooke PhD

FRCEM FRCS(Ed) FRCP FFCI

Chairman

Matthew is an internationally recognised expert in quality improvement and service redesign in emergency care & Times top 100 UK doctors. He has been involved in influencing, writing and implementing national policy in emergency healthcare. Throughout his career Matthew has held influential roles across all areas of emergency care including advisor to Prime Ministers Delivery Unit, Clinical Director at the NHS Improvement, Senior Responsible Officer for NHS Pathways & most recently Chief Clinical Officer, Capgemini UK.

Hassan Chaudhury

Non-Exec Director

Hassan is the Commercial Director for the UK's Health Data Research hub for cancer (DATA-CAN). His background is in front line social work, NHS informatics and public health. He was later a founder at Health iQ - an award-winning real world evidence agency, and held CIO and Chief Commercial Officer positions before its acquisition and his exit in 2019. He is currently Visiting Lecturer at UCL Global Business School for Health, Editorial Board Member of The International Journal of Digital Health, Mentor for the NHS Innovation Accelerator, Commercial Consultant for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Global Digital Health Specialist for Healthcare UK at the DIT, and Co-Chair of the HIMSS Innovation Committee for 2022.

Martin Taylor

Senior Advisor

Martin was the former chairman of Syngenta AG and was a member of the Independent Commission on Banking chaired by Sir John Vickers. In a career spanning the worlds of finance, industry, public policy, and journalism, he has been Chairman of WH Smith plc (1999-2003), Chief Executive Officer of Barclays plc (1993-98) and Courtaulds Textiles (1990-93). From 1999-2005 he was an adviser to Goldman Sachs International.

Sir David Sloman

Senior Advisor

Sir David Sloman was Chief Operating Officer for NHS England from December 2021 to August 2023. As COO he was the Senior Responsible Officer for the NHS's incident response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as overseeing operational delivery across all NHS services in England. Previous to that Sir David was chief executive officer of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Under his leadership, the Royal Free became one of only four high-performing foundation trusts to achieve ‘vanguard’ status and in 2018, Sir David oversaw the opening of the new £200m Chase Farm, the most digitally advanced hospital in the NHS. Sir David was Regional Director for the NHS England London region from 2018 to 2021, where he had oversight of approximately 8,600 GPs, 1,600 GP practices, 18 acute hospital trusts, six specialist trusts, 11 community and mental health trusts and the London Ambulance Service.

Clinical experts

Image 1 Image 2 Image 2 Hector Morales Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2 Image 2

Dr Ben Parker

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Consultant & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Introducing Ben, an established Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Since becoming a doctor in 1999, Ben has been a dedicated psychiatrist since 2001, earning a Specialist Register entry in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2010. Ben has held various consultant roles since 2010, including positions within Livewell South West, the Priory Group and the Huntercombe Group. Ben's extensive experience, ranging from in-patient adolescent psychiatric units to crisis care, outreach, and liaison services has equipped him with a unique and valuable skill set. He's particularly passionate about working with developmental trauma/Complex PTSD and currently specialises in this area. #YouthMentalHealthAce

Clinical experts

Dr Ben Parker

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Consultant & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Introducing Ben, an established Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Since becoming a doctor in 1999, Ben has been a dedicated psychiatrist since 2001, earning a Specialist Register entry in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2010. Ben has held various consultant roles since 2010, including positions within Livewell South West, the Priory Group and the Huntercombe Group. Ben's extensive experience, ranging from in-patient adolescent psychiatric units to crisis care, outreach, and liaison services has equipped him with a unique and valuable skill set. He's particularly passionate about working with developmental trauma/Complex PTSD and currently specialises in this area. #YouthMentalHealthAce

Dr Sarah Trippick

Adult & Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Meet Sarah, a dual medical professional specialising in Emergency Medicine and Paediatric Emergency Medicine. With notable qualifications including FRCEM and MRCP, Sarah boasts over two decades of invaluable experience. Her journey has taken her through clinical and leadership roles in healthcare institutions across the UK and Australia. Currently a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Paediatric Emergency Medicine in South West England. A staunch advocate for medical education, Sarah instructs advanced life support courses and pioneers simulation training. #LifeSaverExpert

Mr Arthur Henderson

Consultant ENT Surgeon & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Meet Arthur, a distinguished Consultant ENT Surgeon at the Royal United Hospitals, Bath. Arthur brings a wealth of expertise, particularly in diseases of the ear, along with an interest in diving, underwater medicine and aviation. His role as lead surgeon for ENT in the Royal Navy underscores his knowledge in these domains. Arthur is a national advisor to Defence on Diving and Aviation related ENT conditions, and also advises the HSE on occupational diving and ENT. He's a sought-after lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and has authored pivotal military and civilian guidelines on ENT conditions, fitness for diving, and flying. #ENTSpecialist

Hector Morales

Emergency Nurse & Clinical Quality Assurance Advisor for Spain

Hector’s training took him from North Africa to the south of Spain, providing insight into healthcare systems in underdeveloped countries. Hector has been a cornerstone of the NHS, spending 15 years in various Emergency Care roles writing numerous Emergency Department Patient Group Directives, ensuring swift analgesia and proper treatment for ED patients. He's also championed Quality Improvement Programmes in multiple hospitals. Currently based at the Emergency Department of the Royal United Hospital Bath (where he’s known for his provision of good quality coffee and doughnuts). #HispanicClinicalGuru

Dr Sam Deirantany

Adult & Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant & Clinical Quality Assurance Advisor for Middle East

Meet Sam, an Emergency Medicine Consultant with 25+ years of global experience. Currently a Locum Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine at prestigious institutions like the Royal Free Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, Sam brings a wealth of expertise to our team. His illustrious career includes two first prize presentation awards from the Irish Neurological Association and the Irish Paediatric Association. Beyond his clinical prowess, Sam is fluent in English, French, and Arabic, broadening the scope of his international clinical practice. #ArabicEmergencyExpert

Ms Alice Milligan

Ophthalmology Specialist Registrar & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Introducing Alice, an Ophthalmology Specialist Registrar with a focus on Emergency Eye Care and Infection. Her training has taken her through prestigious institutions like Moorfields Eye Hospital, Western Eye Hospital Imperial College, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, and the Royal Free Hospital in London. For Alice, working in ED is an honour; she cherishes the privilege of applying her years of expertise to help people in their time of need. Alice's medical journey has also led her around the world, including eye surgery expeditions in Bolivia. Notably, Alice has pioneered new training simulations for high-stress emergency procedures, enhancing the preparedness of future clinicians. #EyeCareInnovator

Dr Dimitrios Tsiakiris

Consultant Acute Adult Psychiatrist & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Dimitrios is a General Adult Psychiatrist and Neurologist. He honed his skills in Greece serving as the sole psychiatrist in a Regional General Hospital. Later, at a Specialist Psychiatric Hospital, he gained expertise in Systemic Family Therapy. In the UK he has served in various capacities, including HMP Leicester. Dedicating five years to the NHS Psychiatrist role at Devon Partnership NHS Trust before joining Livewell Southwest CIC in 2020. He now serves the Plymouth Community Perinatal Service and is Clinical Lead for Research and Innovation. Dimitrios is an advocate against mental health stigma and discrimination, viewing mental health patients as some of the most vulnerable individuals. #MentalHealthPromoter"

Dr Paul Hotton

Consultant Paediatrician in NSW & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Introducing Paul, a dedicated Paediatrician committed to community child health, child safety, and advocacy for vulnerable children. He’s the Paediatric Clinical Lead at the Northern Sydney Local Health District and is a member of the Child Protection Unit at Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. With a background in emergency medicine and in paediatrics, he brings a wealth of experience to his role. Paul also serves as the Chair of the Chapter of Community Child Health Committee at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. His expertise makes him an asset to the field of paediatrics, particularly in child safety and welfare. #ChildHealthAdvocate

Dr Neil Patel

Oral, Maxillofacial, Prosthodontics Dental Specialist & Clinica Governance Advisory Member

Introducing Paul, a dedicated Paediatrician committed to community child health, child safety, and advocacy for vulnerable children. He’s the Paediatric Clinical Lead at the Northern Sydney Local Health District and is a member of the Child Protection Unit at Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. With a background in emergency medicine and in paediatrics, he brings a wealth of experience to his role. Paul also serves as the Chair of the Chapter of Community Child Health Committee at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. His expertise makes him an asset to the field of paediatrics, particularly in child safety and welfare. #ChildHealthAdvocate

Dr Sam Gunning

Emergency Medicine Trainee & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Sam is an Acute Medicine core trainee at Royal United Hospitals, Bath. With degrees in both Medicine and Medical Physics, he's now into a postgraduate Master's in healthcare data at the University of Cambridge. He's also a published researcher. In his previous role as a clinical fellow for Vinehealth AI, he provided invaluable insights into device licensing and user experience. Currently, as the Principal Investigator for RUH, Sam is spearheading a national study on the Investigation of Cardiac Chest Pain Management for the Trainee Emergency Research Network. 🌟 #HealthcareDataInnovator

Dr Robert Conway

Emergency Medicine Trainee & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Robert is an exceptional Emergency Medicine trainee in the Thames Valley Deanery, ranked 14th nationally in Acute Care Common Stem – Emergency Medicine Applications. Since 2020, Robert has held a Clinical Lectureship at University College, Oxford, revolutionising teaching with innovative multi-disciplinary simulations for nursing and medical students. As a Doll Fellow at Green Templeton College, Oxford, he mentors 5th year medical students, guiding them in Emergency Medicine and Community placements. 🌟 #MedicalEducationInnovator

Cassandra Hawes RMN

Social Worker & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Cassandra is a dynamic dual-qualified Health and Social Care professional with a decade of expertise. Her background encompasses a range of clinical specialties, from substance misuse to perinatal mental health. Cassandra excels in acute mental health, crisis management, Best Interest Decisions, and Court of Protection. She's also a force in Community and Primary Care, as well as Short Interventions. In her current role, Cassandra is a vital part of the 'Alternative to Emergency Department' project, providing crucial assessments for those in mental health crisis. Her work not only offers a safe alternative but also eases demand and provides faster support for people across Devon. #MentalHealthChampion

AnnMarie Richardson RGN

Emergency Nurse & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Starting her career in Jamaica, she brought her expertise to the UK in 2002. She's an accomplished Emergency Nurse Practitioner and Prescriber in one of the country's busiest trauma hospitals, overseeing the flow of around 145,000 patients annually. AnnMarie is committed to patient safety and ensuring timely assessments meet targets. AnnMarie is a change-maker, spearheading initiatives for Same Day Emergency Care and refining pathways for Emergency Departments. Her dedication ensures patients receive timely and appropriate care. #EmergencyCareChanger"

Dr Chrissie Hymers

ED Consultant & Clinical Governance Advisory Member

Chrissie is well respected in both Pre-Hospital & Emergency Medicine. With experience in leading Emergency Departments and London's Air Ambulance, she's a true authority in her field. Chrissie's passion for pre-hospital care extends to her role as a Crowd Doctor with Arsenal Football Club. She's a staunch advocate for patient empowerment, ensuring timely and accurate treatment. Through her involvement in digital health, she strives to connect patients with the right care for their concerns. Chrissie is on a mission to develop technology that enhances triage processes in Urgent & Emergency Care. 🌟 #HealthTechInnovator"

Kerri Porter RGN

Emergency Nurse & Clinical Pathway Author

Meet Kerri, a dedicated registered Emergency Nurse with 14 yearr of experience in a Major Trauma hospital in London. As a clinical team leader, she plays a pivotal role in the department. Kerri also serves as an independent Emergency Nurse Practitioner, providing expert care for minor injuries and illnesses. With a keen interest in clinical governance, she's conducted critical root cause analyses, influencing positive changes in emergency medicine. Kerri's contributions have sparked quality improvement initiatives within her trust, ultimately enhancing patient care. #EmergencyNursingLeader

Ros Carlile RGN

Emergency Nurse & Clinical Pathway Author

Ros is an accomplished nursing professional with 40+ years of experience. As a Senior Sister/Emergency Nurse Practitioner, she's a linchpin in the Emergency Department at Royal United Hospital Bath. She’s an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care with Medvivo. Her contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic included advancing the use of remote triage and clinical consultations. Ros is also a key figure in nursing education, serving as the deputy education lead and playing a vital role in shaping competencies for the AFEN programme. 🌟 #HealthcareTrailblazer

Claire Harvey RGN

Emergency Nurse & Clinical Pathway Author

Claire is a dedicated Registered Nurse with 23 years of experience, specialising in Emergency Nursing for the past 16 years, with a focus on triage leadership. Her expertise led to the creation and successful implementation of a triage system in a major London trauma hospital. Claire is a driving force behind triage training and digital transformation, championing paperless systems. With a passion for development, she's committed to overcoming workforce challenges in the NHS. #TriageInnovation

Teresa Taverner RGN

Emergency Nurse & Clinical Pathway Author

Meet Teresa, our seasoned Registered Nurse with 26+ years of UK Emergency Nursing expertise. As a Senior Sister and Emergency Nurse Practitioner, she excels in patient support and referral management, particularly for those at risk of Domestic Abuse, impacting thousands of lives positively. Teresa also champions out-of-hours primary care, ensuring patients get the right care, anytime. #DigitalTriageExpert