Editor’s Welcome

By Surgeons' News editor Emma Stapleton

This issue of Surgeons’ News has a broad theme of surgical education, examinations and career progression – topics that have been central to the work of the College since its establishment 520 years ago. As our President Rowan Parks points out on pages 12–13, it’s a very exciting time; the College continuously adapts and develops to the needs of its membership, demonstrated by exponential evolution in recent years, which the College has led and supported.

In his article on pages 6–7, RCSEd Honorary Secretary Robin Paton outlines how the College governance is being updated to comply with charity legislation and align with best-practice guidelines. This is the culmination of a huge amount of robust and responsible work, and it is no surprise that the first item on the list of ‘Council responsibilities’ is education, examinations, assessment
and quality assurance.

In our two Big Interviews on pages 14–17, Navnit Makaram and Michael Okocha of the College’s Trainees Committee talk to John Hines (RCSEd Dean of Examinations) and Jon Lund (RCSEd Dean of Education) about their aims and plans for the coming years. And on pages 38–39 you can read about the perspectives of our lay and professional MRCS examiners. 

The College is proud to support surgical careers at all levels, from medical students to retirement and beyond. Angus Watson reports on the recent Surgical Skills Competition on pages 24–25. Surgical skills training is a key component of every early-career surgeon’s progression and, on pages 8–9, David O’Regan and John Taylor reflect on the similarities between surgery and martial arts.

On pages 18–19, three Y3 medical students summarise their thoughts on the future of surgical careers, wisely acknowledging that whilst technology advances rapidly, the surgical workforce’s non-technical skillset determines whether innovations translate into patient benefit – a theme close to my own heart! 

Sirat Lodhi summarises the work of the College in supporting foundation trainees via the National Foundation Trainees Surgical Societies network and the newly formed Core Trainee Forum on page 42.

Keeping us all on track, Ananda Kumar Dhanasekaran reminds us of the power of mindfulness for surgeons in our Wellbeing article on pages 28–29.

We have two superb articles from our Patient Safety Group in this issue. Helen Hughes, Chief Executive of Patient Safety Learning, writes about the collaboration between RCSEd and the charity on pages 22–23. Merope Mills, Executive Editor of The Guardian and the creator of ‘Martha’s Rule’, shares her powerful story as a patient-safety campaigner following the tragic loss of her daughter to sepsis.

Earlier this year, Robin Paton launched his book, Anyone Can be a Surgeon, but it Takes Real Talent to be a Footballer. It is a warming and thought-provoking read, with all proceeds going to the Surgeons’ Hall Museums. Chanté St Clair Inglis chats with Robin about the book on page 47.

Emma Stapleton surgeonsnews@rcsed.ac.uk