A Warm Welcome to Our Members and Fellows in Egypt
We are delighted to share this special newsletter highlighting the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s growing activity in Egypt, along with opportunities and news for our Egyptian membership.
Our community in Egypt is a valued and rapidly growing part of the College. Just a few years ago, we delivered no surgical examinations and only a small number of dental examinations in the country. Today, we are proud to offer two MRCS examination diets and several dental examinations each year, with our membership now exceeding 1,000. This remarkable growth reflects the dedication and enthusiasm of our Members and Fellows, who continue to champion the College amongst colleagues, students, and wider professional networks.
We hope you find the stories and information in this edition both useful and engaging. We warmly encourage you to stay connected and share your own news and achievements with us.
Examinations
See below for the list of upcoming diets in Egypt for 2026.
For further information, please see our Exams Calendar.
Webinars
Later this year, Professor Emad Saweeres, International Surgical Ambassador for Egypt; Mr Lasitha Samarakoon, Council Member; and Colonel Paul Parker, Dean of the International Postgraduate Deanery, will host a webinar for Egyptians interested in opportunities to continue their surgical training in the UK through our International Postgraduate Deanery. Register here.
Our History in Egypt
In February 1976, Egypt played host to an historic event – the first full meeting of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh outwith the UK. Held in Cairo and Alexandria over five days, the meeting is regarded as a milestone in the process of raising and maintaining the international profile of the College.
College Minutes from January 1975 state that the Secretary had received a letter from Professor AM Sadek of Alexandria, indicating the proposed meeting had the full approval of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and of Medical Authorities in Cairo and Alexandria, and it was expected that the Egyptian Embassy in London would be “ready to assist the College in every possible way.” Consequently the College’s Education and Science Committee were instructed to organise a scientific programme for following year.
The meeting was attended by the College President (Andrew Wilkinson), the two Vice-Presidents, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The President was to report to Council that it had been “a highly successful occasion, and the College owed a considerable debt of gratitude to the local committee of Egyptian Fellows.”At the meeting Professor A M Sadek was appointed the official College Correspondent in Egypt, and it was decided to form an Association of Fellows of the College covering the countries of the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. The purposes of this Association would be completely non-political, intended solely to foster a strong social and scientific spirit amongst RCSEd Fellows in the region.
To discover more about Library services for Members and Fellows, please visit www.library.rcsed.ac.uk or email library@rcsed.ac.uk.
Funding & Awards Opportunities
The College proudly supports our international community through a number of funding opportunities, established to champion your continued education, training and career development, as well as supporting you in your research endeavours.
The portfolio of funding & award opportunities has recently become even more accessible with a redesigned web portfolio which we hope will ensure that you can see and engage with all that is open to you!
We are proud to invite you to apply to our newly reformed Ophthalmology Research Grants, Pump Priming Grant in Cancer Research, and the James Weir Foundation Research Grants, each offering £10,000 as a catalyst for your innovation and scientific discovery.
To support you in your professional journey, our Specialty Travelling Fellowships in China are also currently open for applications, offering £4000 and the experience to travel to world-renowned centres of excellence in different Chinese cities. These are available in Head and Neck Surgery, Oesophageal Cancer Surgery, Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery and Thoracic Cancer Surgery. Applicants should be Specialty Trainees, SAS Doctors or Consultants in the first two years of their appointment.
We encourage you to explore the full portfolio, and direct any questions to fundingopportunities@rcsed.ac.uk.