Surgical Society: Clinical Skills Coordinator

Surgery plays a critical role in many of our future careers. Despite this, it is left relatively unexplored, especially in pre-clinical years. I am passionate about surgery and resonate with the dilemma of scarce surgical learning opportunities. Attending presentations by surgeons, shadowing them in theatre and possibly the odd suturing course, is near the limit of what is available to medical students. I would relish the opportunity to broaden these horizons and facilitate easier access to the above opportunities.

I have a range of leadership and teaching experiences that involved organisational and time-management skills from conducting academic group tutorials and 400h+ private teaching, to chairing a student-led medical society. This involved advertising events and coordinating presentations after liaising with professionals. My background in teaching and management puts me in an ideal position to run and arrange insightful teaching events. As Hindu Soc’s sales rep, I have experience working as part of a team to organise and advertise the biggest student-run variety show in London with an audience of 1000+. Exposure to clinical skills courses and shadowing surgeons in theatre also serves me well for this role.

I will use my medical/surgical contacts to organise regular and free sessions on: theatre etiquette/surgical safety and progressive clinical skills ranging from basic suturing/knot tying skills to specialised anastamoses/tendon repair skills via a teaching series.

I really appreciate the role of the surgical society providing opportunities to many. I have personally benefited from this a lot both in personal interest as well as academic opportunities I will need in future job applications. I would like to contribute to this, learn more about the behind-the-scenes work, and reach out to likeminded people. Hopefully we can make next year even better!! 

Hi guys,

My name is Alex and I'm a 4th year, having completed my iBSc last year in Surgical Sciences. I know that myself as well as others have benefited greatly from the work and events that Surgical Society have organised over the years and that the Society plays a huge role in promoting and encouraging interests and a career in Surgery.

I have been a member since I started and was Cardiothoracic Chair in 2nd year, proving my passion and longstanding commitment to surgery. In my time I have:

• effectively chaired Cardiothoracics, liaising and organising talks with surgeons
• given tutorials on behalf of Surgical Society
• helped run iNUGSC as part of committee and a member
• attended other surgical conferences and widened my knowledge of Surgery in general
• been involved in a variety of Surgical Research

As a 4th year I have all the relevant Clinical Skills and an understanding of what's needed to bring them to you guys at conferences and events. Being involved with Surgical Society is a fantastic way to get extra practice with clinical skills and a way of starting in earlier years and getting a headstart, especially on things not even offered by the medical school.  I would appreciate your support. Thank you.

Clinical skills make up a great deal of your medical school experience therefore if I had to the opportunity to be your next Clinical Skills Co-Ordinator, I would like to create increased opportunities and exposure to them. 

I believe I am suitable for the role because:

- I have been involved in the society for the past 3 years both as a member of the Neurosurgery sub-committee and Welfare Officer, organising and attending events organised by the society, providing me with a good understanding of the process 

- I am currently a student rep for clinical years which has allowed me to obtain feedback from students to improve their education and opportunities at UCLMS

- I have been involved in organising and running workshops at conferences hosted by this society 

As clinical skills co-ordinator I would like to:

- Re-introduce surgical clinical skills suturing sessions that were sadly halted by the pandemic and increase their frequency to maximise opportunities for students

- Work together with the Clinical Education chair to organise clinical skills teaching to help students with clinical skills that might come up in MOCAPE's and OSCE's so students can feel more supported and prepared

- Work with speciality chairs to try organise more specialist surgical skills sessions related to some of the specialities to increase student exposure to surgical clinical skills they have not seen before and spark their interest in new specialities 

I'm Aadil Ali, and I hope to be one of the Clinical Skills Coordinators next year. I have a growing passion for surgery and joining next year’s committee would be a great opportunity that I would relish. I aspire for this role in particular as I believe that clinical skills teaching needs to become increasingly accessible for medical students at all stages. Partaking in this year's suturing workshops online gave me some insight into how online teaching can be effective and also some ideas on how to improve on it. If I was to get this role I would do my best to invite the most innovative and experienced doctors to deliver clinical skills teaching to us. I would put more emphasis on learning about the more recent methods when it comes to providing medical care so we as future doctors and potential surgeons are ready for what we may be expecting in the future. As an academic tutor I believe I understand the key methods and techniques that different students respond to these days so I will do my best to get teachers who facilitate this. Furthermore, I am a good team player and leader who will be proactive in everything I do. I intend to work closely with my clinical skills partner and with the rest of the SurgSoc to create high quality and varied learning experiences for people of all clinical related interests. I also aim to work with other universities to create larger events that will provide our students with the opportunity to network with medical professionals.

Hi - my name is Natalie Bishop, and I am running to be one of your Clinical Skills Coordinators for next year. 

Despite many medical students having a passion for surgery, there are limited opportunities for us to practice skills during our time at medical school. As a clinical skills coordinator, I hope to provide more hands on experience with many basic surgical skills including suturing, scrubbing in, and handling instruments. I aim to provide further opportunities to shadow surgeons in specific areas of our members' interest. Whatever your previous surgical experience, I hope to work with the other coordinators to provide interactive and effective sessions to further our development as future surgeons. The format of these will vary from meeting face to face and getting hands on practice, to virtual sessions to ensure everyone learns in a comfortable, enjoyable environment that suits them.

As Community Outreach and Development officer for RUMS netball this year, and incoming 1s captain for next season, I have experience working with others as a team. Being responsible of the admin of the 1s over the past three years as vice-captain has developed my organisation and communication skills. Finally, my experience with the surgical team at GOSH during my intercalated BSc has left me with good contacts and rapport with surgeons, with specialities ranging from plastic surgeons to general surgeons. 

Thank you for reading and I would really appreciate your vote!