Dr Edward John Despott, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Endoscopist, currently works within the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, in the Endoscopy unit. He currently holds the position of Clinical Lead for this unit, as well as Honorary Associate Professor for the University College London (UCL) Institute for Liver and Digestive Health within the same NHS Trust. He is highly experienced in performing device-assisted enteroscopy (double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE)), capsule endoscopy (CE), therapeutic colonoscopy (especially complex polypectomy - EMR and ESD), and transnasal upper GI endoscopy. He also has a wealth of experience in the management and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr Despott has developed his experience by undergoing specialist training in gastroenterology and advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy within the North East Thames Rotation of London Deanery School of Medicine. He has also trained in several other prestigious units including St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute and abroad in Japan. During his training, he received multiple scholarships to undertake training in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Dr Despott also undertook a research degree, which resulted in him being awarded an MD(Res) for his work by Imperial College London. He has maintained his interest in research with a plethora of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as him being asked to be a referee for several high impact journals. He is regularly invited as a highly experienced trainer and demonstrator for several international conferences. He is also respected enough within his field to be asked to be a member of the endoscopy guideline and education committees.

Dr Despott graduated from the University of Malta (MD with distinction) in 1999. He was was awarded membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP(UK)) in 2003 and undertook his specialist training in gastroenterology and general (internal) medicine in the North East Thames training rotation of the London Deanery (2004-2011). He also undertook 3.5 years of sub-specialist training in advanced endoscopy at the Wolfson Unit for Endoscopy at St Mark's Hospital (London) during which time he also read for his post-graduate doctorate (MD(Res)) in advanced endoscopy at Imperial College London. He was awarded his post-graduate Specialist Certificate Examination in gastroenterology (MRCP(UK)(Gastroenterology)) in 2010 and was elected a fellow of the European Board of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (FEBGH) in 2012. In 2016, Dr Despott received the prestigious award of fellow of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (FASGE) and more recently has also been elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP). He has also undertaken intensive training in advanced endoscopic techniques at various centres of excellence and international repute during his multiple training visits to Japan (including the Japanese National Cancer Centre Hospital (NCCH), Tokyo, Jichi Medical University,Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken and Kobe Medical University, Kobe).