Future Sutures

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Surgical Skills Competition

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, services and solutions today launch the third surgical skills competition. Convened by College council member Mr Roger Currie, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in Ayrshire, it is now in its third year and aims to discover the most talented undergraduates in the UK aspiring to become the surgeons of tomorrow.

With only 8% of medical undergraduates qualifying as surgeons in one of the ten specialities, surgery is an incredibly competitive area, so being able to demonstrate the commitment and the skills to become a surgeon at this early stage puts students at a great advantage later in their career.

The ground-breaking competition sees final year medical students from across the UK demonstrate their surgical talents and skills in a series of challenges. The competition begins with 19 rounds, one at each UK medical school, during which the students are asked to undertake a series of surgical tasks, with the winner of each heat announced on the night.

"The surgical skills competition is a unique opportunity for medical students with an interest in surgery to practice their skills and demonstrate their expertise" said Roger, "We hope that it will inspire the next generation of surgeons and place them in a unique position for their future career."

The competition will culminate in the Grand Final in Edinburgh on 18th February 2017 at which the top 19 finalists from across the UK will undertake a broad range of surgical procedures before determining who will be make the cut to become the overall winner presented at the Grand Final with prizes including a fully inclusive Medtronic Minimal Invasive Robotic Experience.

As well as prizes being awarded to the winner and runner-up, all participants of the competition will receive a certificate of participation, as well as two year’s affiliation to the RCSEd’s Affiliate Network.

The competition's last winner, 25-year-old Jamie Clements from Lisburn, County Antrim who is now a foundation year said:

"The RCSEd surgical skills competition is one of the outstanding moments of my undergraduate career. One thing I would say to colleagues is that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain from joining the competition which demonstrates one's commitment to a career in surgery"

"One of the major aims of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is to set and quality assure the highest surgical standards and recognise that with the award of Membership and Fellowship," said Mr Michael Lavelle-Jones, colorectal surgeon and President of the RCSEd. "This competition is a shining example of ensuring that those standards are constantly being challenged and updated, with students benefitting from the networking opportunities it brings. RCSEd is very keen to engage with the undergraduate medical schools in the UK and this competition provides an excellent platform. We are most grateful to Medtronic for their collaboration to make this competition possible."

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About The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

RCSEd was first incorporated as the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1505, and is the oldest surgical corporation in the world with memberships approaching 25,000 professionals in over 100 countries worldwide. The College promotes the highest standards of surgical and dental practice through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical and dental workforce. It is also home to the UK’s only Faculty of Surgical Trainers, open to all those with an interest in surgical training regardless of College affiliation. Find RCSEd on Twitter www.twitter.com/RCSEd and on Facebook www.facebook.com/rcsed

The College is based at Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW and can be reached on (0)131 527 1600 or mail@rcsed.ac.uk. In March 2014, a new base opened in Birmingham, catering to the 80% of the College’s UK membership who are based in England and Wales.

For all media enquiries please contact the Communications Team on +447467 485145 or email comms@rcsed.ac.uk 

 

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