Triennial and ICOSET Conference 2025

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is pleased to extend a warm invitation to attend the Triennial and International Conference on Surgical Education and Training (ICOSET) Conference 2025, taking place at the College in Edinburgh, 4-6 June 2025. Under the theme of ‘A World of Innovation’, this flagship event will drive surgical education, training and clinical care forward into the 21^st century.

This theme reflects the conference's commitment to advancing both educational excellence and clinical outcomes. The decision to combine ICOSET with the Triennial Conference creates an unprecedented opportunity for synergy between these two prestigious events.

The Triennial Conference, a highly valued College tradition organised every three years during a President’s term of office, is a time to celebrate the College and its fellowship. The conference will bring together professionals from many disciplines, from medical students to consultants and including all members of the wider surgical and dental teams. It will provide a collaborative space to examine cutting-edge technology, pioneering techniques and forward-thinking strategies that will shape the future of surgical excellence.

It will provide a unique opportunity to learn about modernising global surgical education, training and assessment, to consider the future role of surgeons and how surgical services will be delivered. There will also be opportunities to engage with industry and cutting-edge technologies.

This conference will also provide a wonderful opportunity to connect and collaborate with colleagues and forge new friendships with fellow educators, surgical teams and members of the wider RCSEd family. The event fosters collegiality and fellowship, promoting meaningful networking and discussions that will strengthen professional relationships and inspire future collaborations. There will be ample opportunity to interact and question world experts and leaders in their fields. The social programme will be a major feature of the conference and delegates will have the opportunity to enjoy famed Scottish hospitality, sample some fine Scottish cuisine and partake in some traditional Ceilidh dancing We hope you can join us for what promises to be an unforgettable experience where education meets community and where innovation, resilience and teamwork take centre stage in shaping the next chapter of surgical care.

Set against the stunning backdrop of historic Edinburgh – a city renowned for its rich history, cultural landmarks, and vibrant friendly atmosphere, attendees will have the chance to explore the RCSEd iconic campus and its acclaimed Surgeons Hall museums. Delegates will be able to immerse themselves in centuries of surgical history while gaining fresh perspectives on modern innovations in surgical care.

The ICOSET Programme - A Global Platform for Surgical Education

The International Conference on Surgical Education and Training (ICOSET) has emerged as a distinguished addition to the RCSEd's educational portfolio. The 2025 conference marks the third consecutive time that ICOSET will be held at the RCSEd, underscoring Edinburgh's position as a global hub for surgical education innovation.

Over the years, the ICOSET conferences have focused on introducing groundbreaking concepts and methodologies in surgical education. These pivotal gatherings evolved in response to changing surgical education needs and have been characterized by their focus on evidence-based educational practices, technological integration, and the development of innovative teaching methods. ICOSET has been able to bridge the gap between educational theory and practical application, providing delegates with tangible examples and actionable insights they can apply in their own training programs.

The ICOSET conferences have been particularly notable for their emphasis on international collaboration, bringing together surgical educators from diverse healthcare systems and specialties to share their insights and address contemporary challenges in surgical training. They have been instrumental in establishing numerous innovative educational initiatives that have become standard practice in surgical training worldwide. These include the development of structured assessment methods, the integration of simulation-based training, and the advancement of competency-based surgical education. The conferences have also played a crucial role in fostering international partnerships and creating global standards for surgical training.

As ICOSET returns to Edinburgh in 2025, it brings with it a legacy of educational excellence and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of surgical training. The conference continues to serve as a catalyst for change in surgical education, fostering innovations that ultimately lead to better-trained surgeons and improved patient care outcomes.

Central to the programme is the focus on innovative teaching methodologies and their practical application in surgical training. Sessions will explore the integration of cutting-edge technologies, including virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and advanced simulation techniques. These technological advances are balanced with discussions on fundamental aspects of surgical training, ensuring that innovation serves the core principles of surgical education.

The programme also addresses the crucial aspects of assessment and competency evaluation in surgical training. Workshops and presentations will examine contemporary approaches to measuring surgical competence, providing feedback, and ensuring consistent standards across different training environments. Special attention is given to the development of non-technical skills, recognizing their increasing importance in modern surgical practice.

Interactive sessions will facilitate direct engagement between participants, allowing for the exchange of ideas and best practices. The programme includes dedicated time for research presentations, enabling delegates to share their findings and innovations in surgical education. This research component is vital for advancing evidence-based approaches to surgical training and ensuring that educational methods evolve in line with scientific evidence.

The conference will conclude with forward-looking sessions that aim to set the agenda for surgical education in the coming years. These sessions will address emerging challenges and opportunities, ensuring that the surgical education community remains prepared for future developments in both surgical practice and educational methodology.

The Triennial programme 

The 2025 Triennial Conference programme represents a carefully curated blend of traditional excellence and forward-thinking innovation. The programme structure reflects the multifaceted nature of modern surgical care, encompassing technical skills development, professional competencies, and strategic systems thinking. There will be opportunity to learn from renowned world experts in surgery and other allied disciplines about a varied range of topics, allowing us all to successfully drive innovation in how we deliver surgical care to our patients.

World experts from elite sport and the military will provide helpful insights into strategies for improving their own and their team’s performance. Professor Andrew Murray will talk to us about how we can maximize health for athletes, health professionals as well as patients. Dr. Carrie McCrae will highlight the important role of mental health in performance of athletes and doctors drawing on lessons learned from Formula1 and the Paris Olympics.

Delegates will learn how to function at their best and how to lead and support diverse teams in challenging austere environments. We will hear insights from Mr. David Wightwick, CEO UK Med, on innovative leadership skills in new austere environments.

Dr. Matt Newport, Consultant Anaesthetist with several tours of duty in warzones, will share his reflections on how to maintain individual resilience during challenging placements.

Major General Professor Tim Hodgetts, Master General of the Army Medical Services, will pass on his thoughts on innovating at pace in crisis.

Delegates will have the opportunity to attend a workshop on mentorship where they will gain valuable knowledge on the principles underpinning good mentoring, learn about the RCSEd scheme and have the opportunity to practice mentoring strategies learned in the session.

Trainees will also have the opportunity to gain tuition and practical help in medical device development, in a session sponsored by Team Consulting.

During the Douglas Guthrie memorial lecture, Mr. Iain Macintyre, RCSEd Past Vice President, will share how the RCSEd has led surgical innovation since it was founded in 1805 and how lessons learned can be used to innovate in the future, both nationally and on a global scale. 

Mrs Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, RCSEd regent and pioneering biotech entrepreneur, will share how we can strive to attain affordable innovation on a global scale for 21^st Century healthcare. Professor Yuman Fong, Sangiacomo Family Chair of Surgical Oncology, Los Angeles, and internationally renowned surgical innovator, will share his insights into the qualities required for a successful 21^st Century surgeon.

The conference will also provide insights into how modern technologies can be harnessed to improve surgical care delivery. Professor Ewen Harrison, Professor of Surgery and Data Science University of Edinburgh, will illustrate how Artificial Intelligence can be harnessed for this purpose. Professor Andrew Morris, Director of Health Data Research UK, will highlight the important role informatics and big data play in improving modern healthcare. Ms. Stella Vig, National NHS England Medical Director for Secondary Care, will share her tips on how innovations in surgical unit systems can be used to improve day-to-day service delivery.

There will also be an opportunity for delegates to hear from Dr. Rhodri Phillip, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, and Lieutenant Colonel Neil Eisenstein, Consultant Trauma and Limb Reconstruction Surgeon, on how innovations in osseo-integration and human augmentation can lead to significant improvements in trauma care delivery.

Delegates will learn of the crucial impact of innovation on individual patients and their families. Lord Mackinlay of Richborough, Member of the House of Lords and quadruple amputee following severe sepsis, will share the personal story of his rehabilitation journey, highlighting how surgical innovation impacts on individual recovery and quality of life.

Attendees will also be given practical examples of how surgical teams on the ground can work together to improve patient outcomes, hearing from the recipients of the inaugural MacLeod McLaren Patient Safety Team Award.

In the James Young Simpson Memorial Lecture attendees will learn how team wellbeing is closely linked with patient outcome. Professor Haytham Kaafarani, Professor of Surgery at Harvard and a renowned world patient safety expert, will highlight innovative ways to improve staff wellbeing and support surgical teams when mistakes happen in surgery. The impact of mistakes is well recognised as a major cause of poor mental health in surgical professionals and this session will prove invaluable to many.

Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to learn from globally renowned experts and connect with like-minded fellow professionals. Join us in Edinburgh in June to help forge the future of surgical innovation and education.