Triennial and ICOSET
Conference 2025: an immense opportunity

I am thrilled to invite you to attend the Triennial and ICOSET Conference 2025: A World of Innovation, which will be held in the College against the historic and vibrant backdrop of Edinburgh. The event’s theme is ‘innovation’ and it will combine the major Triennial Conference, organised every three years during a President’s term of office, with the International Conference on Surgical Education & Training (ICOSET). It will be a unique opportunity for medical and dental professionals to learn about modernising global surgical education, training and assessment, consider the future role of surgeons and how surgical services will be delivered, and learn from other professions, elite sport and patients. There will also be opportunities to engage with industry and cutting-edge technologies.

I encourage you to take advantage of early-bird registration, available until 6 January 2025. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to learn from globally renowned experts and connect with like-minded professionals. Together, let’s forge the future of surgical innovation and education.

For those of you who wish to submit abstracts, the closing date is 6 January 2025. You can find out more about the event by visiting www.rcsed.ac.uk/events-courses.

An international perspective 

Looking back over the second half of this year, I had the opportunity to take several international trips in August and September to meet and network with a number of our esteemed College friends and connections.

In August, I spent two-and-a-half weeks in Malaysia. The trip began by facilitating MRCS exams in Kuching, Sarawak and then Kuala Lumpur. We also visited our new office in Malaysia, met the Malaysian Minister of Health and held a President’s Forum with current and potential future Members and Fellows, as well as hosting a fabulous international diploma ceremony.

September brought trips to Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, India and Egypt. In Hong Kong, I introduced the RCSEd Presidential Lecture at the Li Shu Fan symposium, which was hosted by the Hong Kong Sanatorium. In Sri Lanka, the College co-hosted the annual College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka Annual Congress. It was a privilege to take part in the inauguration ceremony and contribute to the education programme, together with Vice-President Professor Tim Graham. Tim and I then travelled on to Kolkata, India, for another diet of MRCS examinations.

Our time in Cairo was a little different. We met Egypt’s military division, who invited us to engage with their education programme and bring our exams to them. We signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research with regard to partnering the government-funded universities’ and private universities’ medical schools to help them with curricular development, education, training and examinations.

We also held our first ever international diploma ceremony in Egypt, in the fantastic surroundings of the New Museum of Cairo. There were more than 100 delegates in attendance and it was a truly memorable experience.

Together with the Presidents of RCSEng, RCPSGlas and RCSI, we conducted interviews and made two crucial appointments to our joint boards. One was the Chair of the Joint Committee for Surgical Training and the other was the Chair of the Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations. 

The past few months have also seen the College make a series of appointments internally. In September, we appointed Professor Jon Lund our new Dean of Education and Mr John Hines our new Dean of Examinations. These are two very important appointments with regard to the core functions of the College.

Welcoming new faces 

We have also elected some new Members to our Council and I am delighted to welcome Professor Paul Brennan, Mr Sai Vital and Professor Chelliah Selvasekar (see p26). I am also pleased that Mr Zahid Raza and Mr Siong Liau have been re-elected and will continue on the Council. Sadly, Professor Phil Turner, Mr Ian Hawthorn and Mr Chris Caddy will be leaving us but I am extremely grateful and very thankful for all their contributions over many years.

We’re nearing the end of the year once again. This month, I will be going out to join the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa to support them in their examinations and also to contribute to their annual conference.

A Christmas message 

As we move into the festive season, we will be looking forward to hosting a reception for our various stakeholders, supporters and other valued historic Edinburgh organisations.

On behalf of the College, I’d like to encourage everyone to look out for each other – and also look after themselves. The festive period is a time when people will, hopefully, get some time to relax, recharge, refresh and refocus but – importantly – have some family or personal time. Please take time to enjoy the break!

For those who will be working over Christmas – particularly those who cover frontline clinical and emergency services – we are always grateful for your service and trust that, in due course, you’ll get time to rest and enjoy some downtime.

Whatever your festive plans might be, take time to reflect on a fantastic year of work and unwind before the new year. For now, I’d like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.