milestone
for top skills event

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Mike Silva: RCSEd Council (2022-23) Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Lead,
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery

Ten years ago the College, with the help of the Hugh Cairns Surgical Society and the Oxford Foundation Trainees Surgical Society (OxFTSS), organised the 1st Oxford Surgical Skills Symposium, which has been running ever since.

What makes this event unique is the exposure of senior medical students and foundation trainees, 72 per symposium, to disciplines and aspects of surgery not routinely covered in surgical curricula. This is done by providing instructor-led exposure of hands-on experience to surgical skills. On average the symposium has over 30 Faculty in attendance. On 14 October 2023 the team rolled out the 10th edition of this flagship event, which is arguably the best of its kind in the UK.

The Hugh Cairns Surgical Society is one of the best ways for medical students at Oxford University to demonstrate an intention to pursue a career in surgery. OxFTSS was the first such society in the country, set up by Katie Hurst with the support of Mike Silva, then Regional Surgical Advisor for Oxford. Under the stewardship of Silva in his role as director of the Regional Surgical Ambassador network, there are now 15 Foundation Trainees Surgical Societies in the UK.

Presidents galore

Over the years the symposium has welcomed more than 700 participants, many of whom are committed to a career in surgery.

The 10th Oxford Surgical Skills Symposium was made even more special by the presence of College President Professor Rowan Parks and Immediate Past President Professor Mike Griffin, with Past President Professor Mike Lavelle Jones as Faculty.

As has been the case from the first symposium, Medtronic was the main sponsor. This year was also supported by Smith and Nephew, C J Medical and Boston Scientific.

Participants were first split into two groups, then given introductory lectures on three of six surgical stations they would encounter: suturing techniques for tendon repair and electrocautery, an introduction to urology and robotic simulation, the management of thoracic trauma, introduction to laparoscopy, bowel anastomosis and introduction to the management of fractures. The groups then broke up into smaller groups and attended three workstations for one hour each, before breaking for lunch.

During the lunch break Parks, Griffin, Jones, Silva and Hurst cut and shared a 10th anniversary cake. In the afternoon session, the groups swapped over and received the remaining three lectures and attended the relevant three workstations.

Each workshop was manned by consultant surgeons and senior surgical trainees acting as instructors. Tasks commenced with a demonstration of what was expected followed by each delegate given time to familiarise themselves and practise a set of skills. The emphasis was on the experience and not entirely the completion of the task. Instructors provided one-to-one support. Medtronic representatives and sponsors with specialist training in each designated area also assisted.

It was great to have Parks, Griffin and Lavelle Jones offering words of advice and support. The young surgeons could see why the RCSEd is considered the ‘friendly college’. Interacting with consultants and trainees of the Faculty from a range of surgical specialties created a thriving environment in which to learn. The symposium delivered on its aim to provide hands-on experience that would enthuse participants to consider surgery as a career and provide an insight into the various subspecialities.

Winners of the event’s skills competition received a certificate and a gift voucher, as well as Affiliate status of the College with all the benefits that brings.