Our latest HymersCAN! event took place in October (2024), and we welcomed back to the school Nathan Ayer, OH 2006-16, Dr Ayse Hamilton (née Djahit), OH 1998-2008 and Samir Pathak, OH 1989-99.

The event was aimed at our older students who are considering career options after Hymers and are showing an initial interest in a medical route. All three of our panelist speakers were able to share their route into their profession alongside some very helpful and useful tips to enter any medical specialism today.

Again, the evening was a popular events amongst our students and their families. Thank you to Nathan, Ayse and Samir for supporting our latest career event for our students. Your help is invaluable and of huge benefit to Hymers' students.

Nathan Ayer, OH 2006-16

Nathan left Hymers Sixth Form in 2016 and studied Dentistry at Newcastle University. After graduating in 2021, he worked in the North East for a year whilst completing his foundation training. After completing DFT1, he moved to Manchester, where he works as an associate dentist.He now works at two practices, providing a range of NHS and private services. He has attended short courses covering many aspects of dentistry, as well as completing a post-graduate diploma in advanced aesthetic dentistry, and is currently working towards a post-graduate certificate in restoring dental implants.

Dr Ayse Hamilton (née Djahit), OH 1998-2008

Dr Ayse Djahit is a cardiology registrar subspecialising in Adult Congenital Heart Disease at Leeds General Infirmary. She was at Hymers from 1998 until 2008, when she then attended Newcastle University, gaining a BSc in Biomedical Sciences. Following her graduation from Newcastle, she returned home to Yorkshire and went to the Hull York Medical School for medial training, graduating in 2016. She undertook her academic clinical training pathway, completing a Masters alongside her clinical commitments, before moving to Leeds to complete her final years of subspeciality training.

Samir Pathak, OH 1989-99

Samir is a consultant pancreatico-biliary and general surgeon working at St James's University Hospital, where he has been a Consultant Surgeon since 2020.Samir qualified from Liverpool Medical School in 2006 and undertook post graduate training in Liverpool, Leeds and the South West of England. He has a strong track record in research and was awarded a Doctorate of Medicine degree. Previously he was a National Institute for Health Research Clinical Lecturer. Currently, he is the principal investigator for two national studies investigating pancreatic cancer and recruit to several national trials.

He has published over 80 papers and two book chapters and secured over £10 million of research funding. Samir is a council member of the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of the UK and Ireland (AUGIS) and Chairs their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee. He also has a strong interest in training the next generation of surgeons and is on the Great Britain and Ireland HPB Association (GBIHPBA) committee as the training lead.

Outside of medicine, Samir is a keen cricketer and played for the England Universities team in 2004. He currently sits on the cricket committee for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is a trustee of their foundation, chairing the cricket sub-committee. Samir recently managed an MCC Tour to Rwanda. Furthermore, he chaired the Yorkshire inquiry into racism allegations.  Samir runs a small charity called 'Cricket Beyond Boundaries' which helps underprivileged but talented cricketers achieve their potential (two have played test cricket).

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