Baron Ara Darzi – An Armenian in the House of Lords of England

Ara Wardkes Darzi, Baron Darzi of Denham (born May 7, 1960) holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at the Imperial College of London. He also served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the UK Department of Health.

Today, Baron Darzi is among the world’s leading specialists in surgery. Research conducted under the guidance of Professor Darzi is aimed at improving surgical practice through innovation in surgery and improving the safety and quality of medical care.

His outstanding contribution to these fields of science has made it possible to publish more than 600 scientific articles that have received the recognition of the expert community. For his outstanding achievements in science and the development of surgical technology, Professor Darzi was elected an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Baron Ara Darzi is the father of innovative surgery. He was the first in Europe to perform surgery using robots. Baron Ara Darzi also became the only Armenian in the history of the United Kingdom to be elected to the House of Lords.

Back in 2008, Baron Ara Darzi became an honorary member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. Being the highest-ranking Armenian in the UK, Baron Darzi is a key figure in the country’s Armenian lobby, which has unlimited prestige in both academic and political circles of the UK.

On October 30, 2012, Baron Darzi’s dream came true – he saw with his own eyes his historic homeland, Armenia. During the official meeting, the then Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan announced that Baron Ara Darzi would become an honorary member of the National Competitiveness Council of Armenia.