The Specialty Board in General Surgery is a dynamic group of general surgeons with a strong interest in surgical subspecialties. Our board comprises surgeons with subspecialty interest, an SAS LED representative, trainee representatives, members from various surgical associations in the UK and international representatives. Members typically serve a three-year term, with the option for a one-year extension. 

Since 2022, we have conducted a webinar series on robotic surgery in collaboration with the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons (IAGES), and the Association of Robotic and Innovative Surgeons. We completed 34 webinars, attracting 7,281 registrations and 3,541 attendees.

The next robotic webinar series, focusing on updates in new technology, is planned to take place later this year, led by Shafaque Shaikh, a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon based in Aberdeen. We are also collaborating closely with national surgical specialty associations to deliver a series of case-based discussion webinars in colorectal surgery. This initiative is being led by Dorin Ziyaie, a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon from Dundee and a representative of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland in Scotland, alongside Stephanie Au, a trainee representative on the Specialty Board in General Surgery.

In addition, we are organising another webinar series with the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, focusing on topics in emergency general surgery. This series will be led by Dimitrios Damaskos, who also serves as the Accreditation Lead for the Specialty Board in General Surgery. He has been actively involved in the accreditation of courses and meetings following the submission of applications to the College. Our group provides supportive feedback to enhance applications that do not meet standards, contributing to our overall success.

In collaboration with the robotic sub-group, we developed the Essentials in Robotic Surgery course for junior surgical trainees in 2022. We have conducted 10 courses with around 15 delegates per course, ensuring a high tutor-to-delegate ratio. This initiative is run in partnership with Intuitive Surgical Limited. Miss Shaikh has also demonstrated the feasibility of conducting skill-based courses outside Edinburgh by delivering this course in Aberdeen.

The Specialty Board also supported the international congress organised by IAGES in October 2023, which took place at RCSEd. This three-day event was the first of its kind and proved to be a tremendous success. The congress was preceded by a laparoscopic suturing skills course convened by Ravi Date, Consultant Upper GI Surgeon, Preston, and Shyam Matanhelia, Consultant Urologist, Blackburn. The conference was followed by an essentials in robotics course convened by Peter Vaughan-Shaw, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Edinburgh.

Each year, the Specialty Board in General Surgery delivers the Joint Surgical Fellowship General Surgery Examination course virtually with Singapore and in person in Hong Kong. This week-long course, facilitated by RCSEd faculty, ensures quality assurance and collaborates with local faculty to provide a successful programme. Attendees of this course have demonstrated a higher success rate in the Joint Fellowship Examinations, underscoring its effectiveness.

Last October, the Association of Surgeons in Training organised a conference at the College, focused on training in robotics, where members of the Specialty Board contributed valuable insights. Some members also participated in the Future Surgery event in London last November to promote the College’s robotic surgery activities.

Our Vice Chair, Professor Sanjay Pandanaboyana, recently initiated a webinar series inviting experienced surgeons, who are Fellows Without Examinations and Ad Hominem of RCSEd, to share their professional surgical journeys with trainees. These sessions are archived so future generations can benefit from the insights shared.

Overall, the members of the Specialty Board in General Surgery are actively contributing to the group’s activities, ably supported by Lindsey Lawson, who ensures the Specialty Board meetings are conducted regularly in accordance with the RCSEd requirements.

The Vascular Surgery Specialty Board enjoys a diverse membership with representation from consultants, residents and specialty doctors. The Board aims to contribute to the shape of UK education and training in our specialty as well as international engagement. Here are some highlights.

The Board has collaborated with the Hong Kong College of Surgeons in developing the new Hong Kong Specialty Training Programme in Vascular Surgery. Board members have contributed to training-site accreditation, the examination of candidates transitioning from the pre-existing general surgery curriculum and the development of a new Fellowship Examination in Vascular Surgery. 

A webinar series was launched in 2024. The webinars were delivered in partnership with other Specialty Boards and received strong engagement and feedback. A session on anterior spinal exposure was run with Orthopaedics, a webinar on vascular surgery in paediatric patients was conducted with the Paediatric Surgeons and a mesenteric ischemia session was run with the General Surgery Board. This year, we will produce a webinar series in partnership with Radiology, which will cover topics relating to endovascular surgery.

Global surgery initiatives are expanding, with efforts to establish vascular training programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa and potential collaborations with the UN Global Surgery Hub. An inaugural vascular skills course in Kenya was delivered to much acclaim, alongside a global vascular surgery webinar series. In addition, discussions continue on facilitating Exchange Fellowships for trainees in low- and middle-income countries. Becky Sandford has spearheaded these efforts and the College should be very proud of her contributions to global surgery.

Trainee-led initiatives continue to thrive, with engagement events targeting medical students. So You Want to be a Vascular Surgeon? has become a twice-yearly event in Birmingham and Edinburgh, designed to showcase all our specialty has to offer. These sessions are sponsored by our industry partner Terumo Aortic. The Board also supports the SAS Development Day, which will be an annual event covering career development and workforce issues. 

The Board enjoys a close relationship with our UK specialty organisation, the Vascular Society. Through this partnership, we host an invited lecture at the Annual Vascular Society Congress. In 2024, we welcomed Professor Julie Freischlag FRCSEd, CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, USA, who gave a lecture entitled ‘Belong Together, Strong Together: Leadership, Team Building and Resilience in Vascular Surgery.’ 

Through a partnership with UK charity the Circulation Foundation, we have sponsored a Human Factors Research Fellowship, now in its fifth year. The Fellowship is hosted by the Surgical Sabermetrics Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh. These Fellows have delivered a number of peer-reviewed publications, national and international presentations and their work has attracted further research funding.

Through these activities in training, education and international collaboration, the Board remains committed to fostering growth in vascular surgery. As new initiatives take shape, the emphasis remains on improving education, supporting trainees and expanding global partnerships to enhance the field. For those interested in contributing to upcoming projects, further engagement with the Board is encouraged. Stay tuned for more updates as these initiatives progress.