Surgical Society: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Chair

Hi Everyone,

I'm Samhita, and I’m excited to run for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Chair!

As Chair, I aim to foster an inclusive and collaborative environment that empowers students to delve into this dynamic speciality.

My key initiatives are to:

• Create hands-on shadowing, cutting-edge research, and innovative workshop opportunities through my existing partnership with UCLH's Head and Neck department. Collaborating with surgeons will offer insights into career paths, timelines, competition ratios, and successful portfolios in the speciality.

• Organise Head and Neck Anatomy and Pathology Revision Sessions run by older students to demonstrate clinical relevance and establish a well-linked community.

• Highlight grants and bursaries from the BAOMS, RCS, BMA, and Medical Research Council, ensuring students are aware and receive guidance on eligibility and deadlines to support their professional pursuits.

• Use my experience as iNUGSC Publicity Coordinator to engage students through our Instagram and collaborate with other universities and surgical specialities. This will create a strong network of students interested in OMFS, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, including in our joint conference with UCLPRAS.

With my experience as an academic representative, iNUGSC 2024 committee member, and research with UCLH's MaxFax team, I am enthusiastic about empowering students, promoting inclusivity, and driving innovation in OMFS.

Thank you for considering me!

Honestly, I had no idea what OFMS was, until the battle of specialties at INUGS, where speaking to an OMFS trainee I realised we have a lot of misunderstandings on OMFS ! I hope to inspire you all too!

• What do I hope to achieve?

1. I want to promote accessibility to OMFS surgery, including fair-priced events, which will include conferences and hackathons
2. I aim to include engaging events for our more hands-on members including surgical workshops.
3. I also will provide plenty of opportunities to our academically-inclined members, including poster presentations and various competitions including quizzes
4. Bridge the gap in OMFS exposure.
5. Collaborate with other universities for events, and establish a national journal club for members interested in OMFS

• Why should you pick me?

1. I have a lot of experience organising a variety of events, including being the hospital coordinator for a charity (FunTeam), Communication Officer for Student MedAid London, Events director for Urology and more.
2. I am a firm believer in accessibility, and will commit to make every member have a well-rounded understanding of what they should be doing at this point in their career, have plenty of opportunities to enrich their portfolio, and hopefully feel inspired but also have a realistic understanding of a career in OMFS surgery.