Welcome to our new regional centre in Birmingham

On Thursday 29 May, RCSEd marked a significant milestone with the relocation of its regional centre to a cutting-edge facility in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Officiated by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE, His Majesty’s personal representative in the county, the event underscored the College’s commitment to advancing surgical excellence across the United Kingdom.

The College formally welcomed an assembly of people integral to the opening of the Walker Building, including local clinicians, the current and former Presidents of the College, as well as a host of individuals who have supported the development of the centre.

While headquartered in Edinburgh, RCSEd represents a significant number of surgeons based in England. Since opening its regional centre in 2015, the College has strengthened its commitment to these members and evolved its Birmingham centre from an outreach location to a dynamic hub in the West Midlands, offering direct access to the local membership and hosting College courses and examinations.

The Lord-Lieutenant marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a special opening film, Operating as One was screened, detailing the College’s new proposition. Attendees heard from Professor Rowan Parks, the President of RCSEd, and the Lord- Lieutenant, who celebrated the profound influence Birmingham has had on shaping surgical training in the UK.  

Birmingham has been a pivotal place in the advancement of surgery, notably through pioneers like Dorothy Geddes, the first woman to receive the Fellowship in Dental Surgery, and Professor Sir John Temple, who was based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and contributed significantly to surgical education and training.

Their pioneering efforts underscore Birmingham’s lasting impact on surgical innovation and education. Portraits of Geddes and Professor Temple hang in the Walker Building as a reminder of their legacy.

Professor Parks said: “We’re incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic building to support our Members and Fellows in Birmingham, a city that has shaped surgical training as we know it today.

“We aspire to support surgeons through every stage of their careers with the facilities in the Walker Building. We anticipate increasing the number of courses and exams run in the centre in the years to come, and to grow our network of partnerships in the region to expand our offering to surgeons.”