ABOUT
The surgeon behind the care
A Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Honorary Associate Professor at University College London, Ms. Murray trained at Oxford and honed her sub-specialist expertise through fellowships at St Mark's, Columbia and Harvard. Even so, the part of the job she values most is the conversation that puts a worried patient at ease.
MBBS, BA (MED SCI) OXON · PHD (IMPERIAL) · FRCS
CONSULTANT COLORECTAL & GENERAL SURGEON
IN HER WORDS
“Nobody looks forward to seeing a colorectal surgeon. My job begins with changing that, making the first conversation feel easy, the plan feel clear, and the outcome feel safe. The surgery itself should be the part you worry about least.”
— MS. ALICE MURRAY
HER STORY
Oxford lecture halls and operating theatres across four continents
(01)
OXFORD & LONDON FOUNDATIONS
Ms. Murray read medicine at the University of Oxford, earning her MBBS and a BA in Medical Sciences with the support of an academic scholarship. She completed her clinical studies in London at The Royal Free and UCL, where an early rotation in colorectal surgery set the direction of her career.
Colorectal surgery rewards both technical precision and emotional intelligence, and she was drawn to exactly that combination.
An academic beginning
(02)
LONDON SPECIALIST TRAINING
Ms. Murray undertook higher colorectal surgical training in London, ranking first among women nationally, and second of all candidates overall, at her specialty surgical interviews. She became a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons in 2022 and trained in advanced laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.
As Pelvic Floor Fellow at St Mark's, the UK's national bowel hospital, she gained sub-specialist expertise in complex proctology, inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal failure: the conditions other surgeons refer on.
Among the best in her field
(03)
NEW YORK & BOSTON RESEARCH YEARS
Determined to understand not just how to operate, but how surgical care can be made measurably better, Ms. Murray spent two years as a Colorectal Research Fellow at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University. She was then awarded a prestigious Harkness Fellowship in Policy and Practice, studying for a further year at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Her PhD at Imperial College London, completed under Sir Ara Darzi, examined international comparisons of surgical quality and performance, research that continues to shape how she practises today.
Asking how surgery gets better
(04)
LONDON TODAY
Ms. Murray is a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at University College London Hospitals, one of the highest-volume centres for bowel disease in the country. She is one of three IBD surgeons there, taking the most complex referrals from across the UK, and works within a high-volume functional bowel and pelvic floor service alongside neurogastroenterologists, anorectal physiologists, physiotherapists and urogynaecologists.
Her practice spans bowel cancer, complex benign disease, inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic floor surgery. She also holds a three-year national post as Associate Surgical Specialty Lead in colorectal surgery at The Royal College of Surgeons, and remains committed to research and medical education, with numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and international presentations to her name.
For her patients, that means care informed by the latest evidence, delivered by someone who helps set the standard for it.
Practice, teaching and leadership
PHILOSOPHY OF CARE
Three principles guide every consultation
1
FEMALE-LED
Proud, feminine and authoritative, with a calm confidence that feels grounded, caring and deeply empathetic. Many patients, particularly women, find a female specialist makes sensitive consultations markedly easier.
2
DISCREET
Every consultation is measured, confidential and respectful. Sensitive topics are handled with tact and without fanfare, creating a safe space to discuss concerns you may have avoided for years.
3
COMFORTABLE
Her manner is approachable and calm, never dismissive. Complex medical language is translated into clear, reassuring communication that puts you at ease from the very first touchpoint.
TRAINING AND CREDENTIALS
An international education in surgical excellence
Every stage of Ms. Murray's training was completed at institutions regarded as the best in their field.
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Undergraduate Medicine: MBBS, BA (Medical Sciences)
Read medicine at Oxford with an academic scholarship, before completing clinical studies at The Royal Free / UCL in London.
LONDON
First among women nationally, and second of all candidates overall, at specialty surgical interviews; trained in advanced laparoscopic surgery.
Higher Colorectal Surgical Training
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
Fellowship: FRCS, 2022
Admitted as a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons.
ST MARK’S NATIONAL BOWEL HOSPITAL
Sub-specialist training in complex proctology, inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal failure at the UK's national centre for bowel disease.
Pelvic Floor Fellow
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
PhD: Surgical Quality & Performance
Doctoral research under Sir Ara Darzi, examining international comparisons of surgical quality and performance.
NEW YORK & BOSTON, USA
Columbia Research Fellow & Harkness Fellow
Two years as Colorectal Research Fellow at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, followed by a Harkness Fellowship in Policy and Practice at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
Associate Surgical Specialty Lead: Colorectal Surgery
A current three-year national leadership post in colorectal surgery, alongside ongoing clinical practice, research and medical education.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALS
One of three IBD surgeons at one of the country's highest-volume centres for bowel disease and pelvic floor conditions, taking the most complex referrals from across the UK.
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
ROLES AND MEMBERSHIPS
Trusted by the profession
Ms. Murray's standing among her peers is reflected in the national roles she holds and the professional bodies she belongs to.
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
University College London Hospitals
Honorary Associate Professor
University College London
Fellow
The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Associate Surgical Specialty Lead, Colorectal Surgery
The Royal College of Surgeons
Member
Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland
Member
The Pelvic Floor Society
Harkness Fellow in Health Policy & Practice
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Registered with the General Medical Council
GMC 7021275
Medicine, practised around the world
A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Ms. Murray has lived and worked in hospitals across four continents, experience that brings perspective, adaptability and humility to her London practice.
United Kingdom
Oxford, London, St Mark's, and her consultant practice at UCLH today.
United States
Research fellowships at Columbia University and Harvard.
Tanzania
Clinical experience in East African hospital settings
Serbia
Clinical work within European healthcare systems.
Australia
Hospital medicine on the other side of the world.
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
Contributing to the evidence
Ms. Murray has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and presents internationally:
Bowel Preparation: Are Antibiotics Necessary for Colorectal Surgery? Murray AC, Kiran RP. Adv Surg. 2016 Sep;50(1):49-66.
Value-Based Surgical Care: A View from The Surgeon’s Knife, Murray AC. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2018 Jun 2;79(6):316-321
Risk of anastomotic leak after laparoscopic versus open colectomy. Murray ACA, Pasam R, Kiran RP. Surg Endosc. 2016 Apr 28.
HER RESEARCH INTERESTS SPAN:
HIGH-QUALITY SURGICAL CARE
SURGICAL OUTCOMES REPORTING
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
PELVIC FLOOR DISEASE
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Local roots, everyday life
BEYOND THE THEATRE
The best doctors understand their patients' lives, as they share them.
Away from the operating theatre, Ms. Murray is a mother of two and lives locally, in the same community as many of the patients she cares for. Years spent living and working abroad, in places such as Tanzania and Australia, have given her a deep appreciation for how different lives shape different health needs.
That is why her consultations never feel like a conveyor belt, as she gives each patient her full attention and care.
Ready when you are
A first consultation is simply a conversation, unhurried, confidential and entirely on your terms.