Sohier Elneil is the UCL Professor of Urogynaecology and Consultant Urogynaecologist and Uro-neurologist, based at University College London, University College Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in London. Her career started in Africa in the 1990’s, where she trained in looking after women with complications of female genital mutilation (FGM) and childbirth, including fistula. The effects on women’s lives were so destructive, that it galvanized her to undertake further training and research in the UK, looking at all aspects of the science and medicine of disorders of the pelvic floor in women including continence and prolapse issues, chronic pain, and the impact of benign gynaecology pathology on women’s lives. As a result, she has been leader in developing/implementing novel therapies such as sacral neuromodulation and botulinum toxin treatment of the pelvic floor in the United Kingdom since 2002. Since then both therapies, which were experimental at the outset, are now part of routine clinical practice not only in the UK but globally.
She is also well known for other ground breaking work including developing restorative surgery for women with continence/prolapse mesh complications, FGM and obstetric fistula. She has written extensively on these subject matters and is invited to participate in national and international meetings, research groups, surgical workshops, guidance production and numerous other events to help teach and train colleagues in various aspects of this field. Indeed she has come to define a new field in medicine, Neuro-urogynaecology. This incorporates neurology in complex pelvic floor dysfunction, which is an important aspect of women’s health throughout the world. Sohier has extended her UK clinical and academic work experience and now also works with colleagues in Africa and Asia. She promotes women’s health issues on a global scale, by encouraging dialogue between medical and paramedical experts, governments, and international organizations. By developing and endorsing globally accepted health policies, she believes it can truly empower women and improve their lives.
She has won many awards for her work in women’s health. In 2018, amongst other awards won in 2009 and 2019, she won the following:
o NHS Patients Association and BBC One Show Healthcare Professional of the Year (May) in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
o NHS Health Heroes Daily Mail Award, received from Prime Minister Theresa May (September)