Shelley Potter

Professor Shelley Potter serves as Professor of Surgical Oncology at Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, and is affiliated with the Bristol Population Health Science Institute. She divides her clinical time between the University and Bristol Breast Care Centre at North Bristol NHS Trust, delivering evidence-based patient care.

Her academic credentials include:

• BSc (Hons)
• M.B.Ch.B.(Hons)
• PhD

Her research fundamentally addresses improving outcomes for women undergoing oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery through rigorous methodology. She pioneered the BRAVO study establishing core outcome sets, led the NIHR-funded iBRA cohort study on implant-based reconstruction, and directed the Association of Breast Surgery-funded TeaM study on therapeutic mammaplasty. Her work consistently identifies critical evidence gaps and develops frameworks for high-quality pragmatic trials in breast reconstruction.

Her 2025 publications reveal strategic focus on standardizing outcome reporting in neoadjuvant therapy, developing digital interventions for post-cancer body image, and establishing consensus protocols for axillary management. These works collectively advance evidence-based decision-making through core outcome sets, feasibility trials, and international surgical consensus processes.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• FHEA (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy)
• FRCS (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons)
• Training Interface Group National Oncoplastic Fellowship

Professor Potter has secured major funding from the Academy of Medical Sciences, NIHR, and Association of Breast Surgery across nine research projects including ANTHEM and Pre-BRA studies. She holds national leadership roles as Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Specialty Lead for Breast Surgery and Secretary to the Association of Breast Surgery Academic Committee while supervising emerging researchers through formal academic pathways.

She drives collaborative research through the Mammary Fold Academic and Research Collaborative and British Breast Group, coordinating multi-center initiatives that bridge clinical practice with academic rigor to transform breast reconstruction evidence standards.