Trainees' Committee
The Trainees’ Committee of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is dedicated to representing and advocating for trainees. It ensures that trainee perspectives are considered in all College activities.
The committee voices trainee opinions and priorities to the RCSEd Council through its elected representative and collaborates with external bodies like the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the British Medical Association, and the Association of Surgeons in Training. It works closely with the RCSEd policy and public affairs team, providing input on political consultations and strategic projects, such as the #LetsRemoveIt Anti-Bullying and Undermining Campaign.
Additionally, the committee participates in working groups on issues like flexible working and whistleblowing, negotiates trainee benefits such as tax relief for JCST fees, and engages with College members and students at outreach events. It also contributes to College competitions and courses, ensuring trainee interests are represented in education, training, and examination matters.
The Trainees' Committee members are located across the UK and want to hear the views of the RCSEd Trainees it represents.
Current Members of RCSEd's Trainees' Committee
Katie Hurst (Chair) is a General Surgery Registrar (ST4) in the Thames Valley deanery, with an interest in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. During completion of her academic foundation programme and academic clinical fellowship in Oxford, she sat on the RCSEd Trainees committee for 3 years. Katie is extremely passionate about improving trainee morale, as well as teamwork in the workplace. She orchestrated the RCSEd roadshow 'Lets Cycle It', and is currently chair of the RCSEd Sustainability Champions. Outside work, Katie enjoys cycling, running and spending time with friends.
Morven Allan is a General Surgical trainee in South East Scotland. She completed her medical training, foundation and core training in Oxford and London before moving back to Scotland, where she is originally from, for higher surgical training. She is currently pursuing a PhD through the University of Edinburgh, using various models to investigate colorectal cancer progression.
She has a keen interest in medical education and has recently joined the RCSEd Education Committee as the trainee representative. In addition, she wishes to build on the fantastic work already achieved by the committee on supporting LTFT, OOP and parental leave for all trainees, which she believes will help improve retention in surgery. Outside work she enjoys tennis, running (mainly after her 2 year old), skiing and walks with her dog.
Emma Howie is a ST6 General Surgery trainee, currently on OOPR, completing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh with the Surgical Sabermetrics group. Emma is passionate about human factors and patient safety, with a tutoring role on the RCSEd supported MSc for Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors. This also extends to interest and work with NOTSS, to which Emma is passionate about extending throughout levels of surgical training. Other interests include supporting wellbeing of trainees through peer support, LTFT and non-traditional surgical pathways; and constant pet therapy from her Labrador.
Iain Rankin is a Senior Registrar in Trauma & Orthopaedics at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. He completed his undergraduate training at the University of Glasgow in 2012 and subsequent foundation training in North West Thames. He was appointed to a training post in the North of Scotland Deanery in Trauma & Orthopaedics in 2014. Throughout his surgical training he has completed a MSc in Evidence Based Healthcare at University College London and PhD in Bioengineering at Imperial College London. As a member of the RCSEd Trainees’ Committee he aims to work towards improving trainee wellbeing and sustainability, whilst pursuing his interests in surgical education and training.
Majid Rashid is a General Surgery trainee in South East Scotland with an interest in Oncoplastic Breast surgery. He is enthusiastic about medical education, medical leadership and how both can impact on patient safety. As member of the Trainee Steering Group for the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) he runs a monthly book club you can follow on X (@MajidMRashid).
He completed the Scottish Clinical Leadership Fellowship (2022-23) with RCSEd and NHS Grampian. His work with the Patient Safety Group is centered around how we can build healthier teams in healthcare to improve both staff well-being and consequently patient safety.
Ngozi Sylvia Anyaugo is a General Surgery trainee (ST4) in East of England, with an interest in Upper GI Surgery. Ngozi hopes to work with the college on anti-bullying policies, advocate for trainees, and highlight training gaps. For example, she aims to facilitate the transition from laparoscopic to robotic surgery, ensuring that upcoming trainees are fully equipped to become competent surgeons. As a full-time trainee and mother of two children, she hopes to advocate for trainees who are parents, particularly in ensuring that college policies are fair and adaptable to personal circumstances.
In her spare time, Ngozi enjoys event planning, volunteering at a children's summer camp charity, cooking, running her YouTube cooking channel, and dancing.
Matthew Goldsworthy is a Specialty Registrar in General Surgery. He qualified in medicine from the University of Leeds before undertaking surgical training in the North West of England. His clinical interests are in surgical oncology, and he has completed academic scholarships in this field, both in the UK and internationally at Massachusetts General Hospital, USA. Matt is passionate about surgical training and aims to use his role on the RCSEd Trainees’ Committee to advocate for excellence in surgical education for the benefit of future consultant surgeons and their patients.
Navnit Makaram is a Specialty Trainee in Trauma and Orthopaedics on the South-East Scotland rotation and a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. He completed his undergraduate medical training at the University of Edinburgh and later pursued Academic Foundation training in Dundee. Alongside his specialty training in Trauma and Orthopaedics, Nav earned an MSc in Surgical Sciences from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is currently working towards a PhD at the MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer with the University of Edinburgh, where he is investigating the genetic basis of Paget’s Disease of Bone.
Nav joined the Trainees’ Committee in May 2024, and is eager to build on the committee's strong legacy of excellence. He aims to enhance trainee wellbeing, advance surgical simulation, and increase trainee engagement with the College’s ongoing educational and research initiatives.
Alexandra Haddon is a Speciality Registrar in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery in South East of Scotland. She completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of Aberdeen and subsequent foundation training in South East Scotland. She completed the first half of her Orthopaedic Speciality training in the North of Scotland. She has a strong passion for rota design and management, undergraduate and postgraduate education, sustainability within surgery and supporting trainees taking time out and returning to work.
Outside of work Alex enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, swimming, skiing and exploring with her husband, baby and dog.
