Election post
SurgSoc at UCL has a large variety of remarkable medics. I believe it would be a true privilege to help these aspiring surgeons develop a stronger passion for their chosen specialty, something that I hope to achieve through the Shadowing Scheme. Personally, I have been mentored by a doctor within my field of interest in the BONUS mentoring scheme which I found incredibly helpful and inspiring. I believe I can use this experience to outline clearer aims for the scheme and to confidently identify the best candidates for mentors/mentees. Furthermore, I have good experience with contacting surgeons who are keen to be involved with teaching. For instance, being a workshop coordinator for iNUGSC 2023 required me to contact and liaise with various surgeons that might be interested in leading a workshop. I was able to develop connections with surgeons that I had heard speak at previous talks and use these to identify novel points of contact. Organising an international space medicine conference for Wilderness Med Soc also pushed me to identify doctors within the relevant specialty and convince them to speak for us. I had to remain adaptable, problem-solving when speakers stopped responding to my emails, for example by contacting them using new ways such as social media. Keeping track of whom I had contacted required good organisation. Finally, the professional communication skills gained from all these experiences will prove invaluable for the role of Shadowing Scheme Officer.