Election post
Hi, I'm Dhanyata!
Academic Surgery remains one of the least accessible surgical specialties for students. Our curriculum does not engage us in research, and for many, the iBSc is the first time we navigate how to conduct research. With the removal of UKFPO points for research and the shift toward randomised allocations, students have less incentive to engage in research—only to realise it is a key portfolio requirement for CST and ST3 applications. Without structured guidance, mentorship is inconsistent, often depending on research groups or senior students.
As Academic Coordinator for iNUGSC, I partnered with two journals to offer free publication for selected abstracts and give winners the chance to publish full reports for free—breaking down barriers to research. Now, I want to expand access, increase representation, and make research more applicable to surgical practice.
As your Academic Surgery Chair, I would implement:
🪡 SUTURE (Surgical Teams for Undergraduate Research & Evidence) – A platform for students to form research teams and start projects.
🥅 GRAFT (Guidance, Research, and Academic Feedback Tutorials) – Drop-in sessions run by clinical training fellows to support students with research and presentations.
🗣️ VASC (Virtual Academic Surgery Conference) – Built during COVID, VASC covers academic careers, research skills, oral presentations, and practice-changing research. I want to build on this foundation with more interactive, clinically relevant discussions.