Surgical Society: Academic Surgery Chair

Hi everyone my name is Kannan Maheswaran and I would love to be your Academic Surgery Chair this year. Presently, I am a part of the General Surgery subcommittee. I have developed and teached well-received tutorials elaborating on course content for students, not only for General Surgery but also for the Surgical Society Education subcommittee. My goal is to expand offerings that support enriched surgical learning if appointed Chair.

On top of my educational contributions, I am actively furthering Academic surgery practices through research and my aim is to create a mentorship program where senior surgeons guide those eager to pursue research projects. By facilitating this work, I envision the Society deepening its commitment to surgical advancement.

To conclude, my blend of educational, research, and mentoring skills coalesce to make me an ideal candidate to propel the Society forward as Academic Surgery Chair. This year my contributions span activities that are integral pillars of the Chair role. I welcome the opportunity to combine my energy and ideas to chart an ambitious course for the future of the Society. The chance to expand everyone's knowledge on Academic Surgery makes me even more ecstatic to be a part of the journey. I hope you vote for me as your Academic Surgery Chair.

Hello all,

I am standing for the position of Academic Surgery Chair due to my deep involvement with the subcommittee this year and my enduring passion for expanding research opportunities.

This academic year, I served as Head of Sponsorship and VP for VASC (our annual virtual surgical conference). In these roles, I met and liaised with innovative industry partners, outstanding medical students, and healthcare professionals at the forefront of surgical research. Together, we secured the necessary sponsorship and organized a fantastic conference.

These experiences have motivated me to apply for Chair and work on bringing exciting new ideas to fruition. They have also honed my crucial time management, communication, and project management skills, ensuring I can effectively fulfill this role. As Chair, I will have the scope to implement ambitious initiatives such as a preclinical surgical research network to streamline project discovery and academic networking events. Most importantly, my focus will be on leveraging my experience as VP to make VASC even bigger and better, ensuring it surpasses this year's success.

The Academic Surgery division has profoundly influenced and guided my research endeavors over the past two years, yielding incredibly rewarding experiences. As Chair, I am unwavering in my commitment to expanding these invaluable opportunities to even more individuals, ensuring that many others can benefit from the same transformative experiences.

Hi, I'm Honey and I hope to be your next Academic Surgery Chair. Thank you for reading my manifesto!

My aims:

1. Virtual Academic Surgery Conference (VASC): Building upon my experience speaking at the VASC 2024 Student Stories workshop, I aim to enhance accessibility and foster a supportive environment for aspiring academics.
2. Surgical Portfolio Development Series: Providing one-to-one feedback sessions with experienced consultants to effectively support and navigate their academic journey.
3. Monthly Journal Club: Working closely with specialty chairs, these initiatives will promote in-depth discussions, focusing on emerging trends and developments in surgery. They aim to provide opportunities for dialogue and networking with leading consultants to enhance learning and innovation.

My experience:

• UCL Surgical Society Neurosurgery Chair (2023/24): Led the International Neurology and Neurosurgery Conference 2024 and the Neurosurgery Symposium in collaboration with KCL and QMUL and the "Journey through the Encephalon" lecture series.
• Research: Literature review in Spinal Neurosurgery, lab project on Zebrafish and Alzheimer’s disease, Meta-analysis on Deep Brain Stimulation and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and more.
• Subcommittee: NIHR, National Medical Research Association, WinS, RUMS RAG, and UCLWMS. I gained valuable insights into diverse disciplines and essential skills in leadership, finance, and education necessary for effective team management and collaboration.