Medical Specialist Group welcomes back home-grown talent with expertise in lung disease

Having attended Castel Primary and The Ladies’ College, Dr Naftel left the island to read medicine and trained at the University of Southampton, graduating in 2014 with honours. During her undergraduate training, she also achieved a first class Masters in Medical Science.  

Dr Naftel completed an academic foundation programme at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and a critical care fellowship. She later undertook her specialist training in respiratory and general medicine in the Wessex deanery. During her specialist training she completed a Biomedical Research Centre fellowship focusing on clinical trials in severe asthma and interstitial lung disease.  

Throughout the fellowship, Dr Naftel contributed to research that led to an international consensus on the use of asthma biologics in pregnancy, which was subsequently published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. She has published and presented other work at both national and international levels. 

Dr Nick Crabtree, Deputy Chair of MSG, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr Naftel back to her home island to share her expert knowledge and deliver high quality care to our community.  We continue to invest in specialist expertise to meet the evolving needs of islanders, and they will be in very safe hands with Dr Naftel.”  

Dr Naftel said: “I am so excited to be coming home to Guernsey, to be able to return in this role is very special as I am able to give back to the local community. It really is a privilege. I am also looking forward to working with colleagues across the islands’ healthcare system and contributing to  the high-quality, patient-centred care. 

Outside of work Dr Naftel loves seeing friends and family, “I am already enjoying reconnecting with island life and showing my husband and son what Guernsey has to offer. I am particularly  keen to resume my sea swimming which my family and I have enjoyed since I was a small child, the bathing pools are one of our favourite spots!”