Dr Yi Zhao is a highly accomplished clinician–scientist at Imperial College London whose expertise lies at the intersection of surgery and artificial intelligence. With an undergraduate medical degree (MBBS) from Imperial College and further specialization in surgical design, Dr Zhao combines rigorous clinical training with a passion for technology. In professional practice, he works within the NHS and collaborates on research in ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia, contributing to multidisciplinary projects and consensus-building initiatives. His research focuses on leveraging machine learning and AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy and workflow in surgical and imaging domains, as evidenced by numerous systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical-implementation studies. Dr Zhao has made significant scholarly contributions—including peer-reviewed publications evaluating AI performance in urology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and musculoskeletal imaging—and his work has helped define reporting frameworks for AI in medicine. He is recognized within his community for methodological leadership, participating as an author on international consensus guidelines and as a reviewer for high-impact journals. His professional standing is further underpinned by active membership of clinical and academic societies, certification in both medical practice and AI evaluation, and consistent peer recognition for his role in promoting responsible, evidence-based deployment of surgical AI technologies.
Profiles: Google Scholar
Featured Publications
1. Zhao, Y., Simpson, B. S., Morka, N., Freeman, A., Kirkham, A., Kelly, D., … Ahmed, H. U. (2022). Comparison of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging with prostate-specific membrane antigen positron-emission tomography imaging in primary prostate cancer diagnosis: A … Cancers, 14(14), 3497.
2. Zhao, Y., Coppola, A., Karamchandani, U., Amiras, D., & Gupte, C. M. (2024). Artificial intelligence applied to magnetic resonance imaging reliably detects the presence, but not the location, of meniscus tears: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Radiology, 34(9), 5954–5964.
3. Thomas, M., Murali, S., Simpson, B. S., Freeman, A., Kirkham, A., Kelly, D., … Zhao, Y. (2023). Use of artificial intelligence in the detection of primary prostate cancer in multiparametric MRI with its clinical outcomes: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 13(8), e074009.
4. Gao, Y., Zhao, Y., Choi, S., Chaurasia, A., Ding, H., Haroon, A., … Wan, S. (2022). Evaluating different quantitative shear wave parameters of ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of lymph node malignancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancers, 14(22), 5568.
5. Zhao, Y., Nozdrin, M., Dalla Pria, A., & Bracchi, M. (2021). Nannizziopsis immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a patient with HIV: First reported case. European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine, 8(11), 003021.
Dr. Yi Zhao’s work at the intersection of surgery and artificial intelligence advances precision diagnostics and promotes safer, more effective clinical decision-making. His research contributes to the development of trustworthy, evidence-based AI tools that enhance healthcare delivery and support global innovation in medical imaging and surgical technology.