A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR:

The winds
of change

To move forward, while developing and nurturing talent, we must continue to grow, believes Roger Currie

Welcome to the last Surgeons’ News of 2023 and, perhaps for some of you, the final printed copy. It is challenging to remember all the issues we have faced in my three years as Editor. No one and no area has been immune. We have faced vast challenges in the UK in the provision of medical and dental care post pandemic. Worldwide travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels allowing overseas examinations, education and networking to resume, highlighted by the events marking the fifth anniversary of the College’s International Office in Malaysia and numerous other events and conferences across the globe. Closer to home, the Intercollegiate examination has returned to a more recognisable beast, although still with some of the COVID-19-era changes in place, for good or bad. 

Surgeons’ News is not immune to change. We are actively moving to a digital platform, which has many benefits, but we will still retain a print run. Think has been our production partner for the last seven years and, in my tenure, I have worked with three editors and the magazine has won Business Publication of the Year at the PPA Scotland Awards 2022. 

Change, and the management of change, is something the College in its 518-year history is good at. We welcome and say goodbye to new and past Council Members, noting that all have previously been in change-driven roles: the Regional and International Ambassador Network and the Trainees’ Committee. 

These examples of change within the last 20 years have allowed the College to develop and nurture this wide breadth of talent to serve its membership in coming years. I do note, however, that the age of appointment to Council has definitely fallen from when I held that dubious honour back in 2010. This change of age and demographic is good for the long-term future of the College. 

In this issue we also note with sadness the passing of Professor George Parks. We recognise the unique duality of positions that he and his son Rowan have held over the years, something unlikely to be repeated. We have also lost two Council members, Richard Montgomery and Chris Oliver, who served during my tenure on Council. Council is like a family and, while we may not always have agreed, there is genuine sadness in their passing.

I hope this issue brings something of interest and value to all our readers. Some may gain insight from Anne Shearer’s gifting suggestions on p62, others may prefer to order and sample Carole and Richard’s festive fizz suggestions on p60. There are a number of other thought-provoking and informative articles to help aid wider understanding of different issues and aspects of the full College family.

I would like to thank the new Dental Dean for his kind words in his first column on p42. It was a pleasure to be reminded that we were fresh-faced registrars in Glasgow 25 years ago.

Change is normal and we must embrace it for the next 518 years to move forward. I hope this edition shows the College is reactive to change, most significantly highlighted by the thought-provoking article from Chelcie Jewitt on p26 in relation to sexual misconduct. I think the College’s comments after the publication of the Working Party of Sexual Misconduct in Surgery’s report shows how seriously this institution wants to address and tackle the problem.

Finally, I would like to wish all readers peace, health and happiness for the upcoming holiday season.

Roger Currie

surgeonsnews@rcsed.ac.uk