About Us | Surgassists

Our Story

Founded in 2024 with a clear purpose

Surgassists was founded by Phoebe CJ Reynolds in 2024 with the mission to create accessible patient education through immersive mixed reality technology. Recognising a systemic gap in how patients understand surgical procedures before giving consent, Surgassists set out to build the only VR and AR patient consent product on the market.

Working directly alongside NHS consultant surgeons and academic partners, every module is clinician authored, evidence validated, and designed to fit within a standard outpatient appointment.

Today, Surgassists operates across the UK and Europe, with research led by Professor Bhaskar Somani at Southampton University Hospital, and a growing library of peer reviewed publications demonstrating its clinical impact.

What We Stand For

Our Values

Patient Centred

Every module is designed with the patient experience at its core, reducing anxiety, improving understanding, and supporting genuine informed consent.

Evidence Based

All Surgassists content is developed alongside NHS clinicians and validated through prospective research published in peer reviewed journals.

Universally Accessible

Available in 7 languages and designed to work on any smartphone, tablet or VR headset, removing barriers of language, literacy, and technology.

Our Team

The People Behind Surgassists

Phoebe CJ Reynolds (MA)

Founder / Developer

Founded Surgassists in 2024 with the mission to create accessible, immersive patient education. Developer of the only VR and AR patient consent product on the market. Cornwall 30 Under 30 recipient, Anthropic Emerging Leader, and Tech South West finalist.

Professor Bhaskar Somani

Consultant Urologist · Head of Research

World renowned endourologist at Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust. Rated #1 surgeon in the world for ureteroscopy and PCNL procedures, and #1 urologist globally for urological research. Editor in Chief of the Journal of Clinical Urology. Professor Somani has published over 950 peer reviewed papers and leads the Surgassists clinical research programme. View full profile →

Researchers

Led by Professor Bhaskar Somani at Southampton University Hospital, UK

Dr Amelia Pietropaolo

Consultant Urologist
Southampton University Hospital

Mrs Loretta Tear

Specialist Stone Nurse
Southampton University Hospital

Mr Sameer Umranikar

Consultant Gynaecologist
Princess Anne Hospital

Mr Oudai Ali

Consultant Gynaecologist
Epsom & St Helier Hospital

Mrs Tanya Davis

Specialist Stone Nurse
Southampton University Hospital

Dara Bamerni

BM5 Y3 Medical Student
Southampton University Hospital

Arianna Pischetola

Medical Student
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico

Florencia Frascheri

Clinical Research Fellow
Southampton University Hospital

Solomon Bracey

Medical Student
Southampton University Hospital

Our Journey

Surgassists Timeline

2024 — Founded

Surgassists is established

Phoebe CJ Reynolds founds Surgassists with the mission to improve patient understanding through immersive mixed reality. Research begins at Southampton University Hospital under Professor Bhaskar Somani.

2024 — First Module

Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) module launched

The flagship SWL module becomes the first Surgassists product, with prospective outcomes research conducted at Southampton University Hospital demonstrating significant improvements in patient understanding.

2024 to 2025 — Expansion

Urology and Gynaecology modules developed

Flexible Cystoscopy, Ureteric Stent, vNOTES, and Hysteroscopy modules developed in collaboration with consultant surgeons at Southampton University Hospital and Princess Anne Hospital.

2025 — First Publication

First paper published in World Journal of Endourology

Surgassists research reaches a landmark milestone with the first publication in the World Journal of Endourology, presenting prospective outcomes from Southampton University Hospital demonstrating the significant impact of VR on patient understanding and consent quality for endourological procedures.

2026 — Present

Growing research network across UK and Europe

Surgassists continues to expand its research network with NHS trusts and European clinical centres. Coloproctology and General Surgery pathways in active development.

Our Mission is to Improve Patient Outcomes