Hong Kong
Research request
Archive
Exams
Tooke: the government reponds
Behind the Medical Headlines
 

Hong Kong May 2008

There is a real opportunity for Fellows and Members to participate in the inaugural Davies International Meeting which our College is hosting along with colleagues in the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine on 10 th and 11 th May 2008. Even better, there is the distinct possibility that the College will pay for you to attend. Interested? The story is that our College has earmarked a considerable sum to assist participants who wish to attend this meeting and make a presentation. It is anticipated that 10-12 young investigators from the UK will be supported and in addition it is our intention to similarly help clinicians from mainland China in collaboration with our colleagues in Hong Kong. The latest detail of the meeting is available on the new College site.

Even if you are not free to attend the Hong Kong meeting this May there is a special Travelling Fellowship available. Find the details here.

If you are interested, there is the possibility of a double CPD hit because the meeting is being followed by the Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Congress, also in Hong Kong. Details here.

 

 

Research invitation

Some of you might be interested in participating in a study which is being promoted by some colleagues from Italy. It is a questionnaire based project about the use of drains in uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. I clipped the following quotation from Professor Rendano’s e-mail. If you are in a position to help I am sure he would be grateful.

The goal is to know the international habit about the use of the drain in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The answer will be encrypted to preserve the privacy. If you would like to try the test, click here: We thank you very much for your cooperation

Best regards

Franco Rendano and Francesco Corcione

Prof. Dott. Franco Rendano, General Surgeon, Professor of Chirurgia Generale dell¹Università di Napoli . Italy. +39 335 232767 franco.rendano@fastwebnet.it

 

Archive of Web highlights pages.

I hear on the grapevine that at least three or four of you have found items of some interest in these monthly electronic contributions. One problem is that you wish you could remember the crucial site or resource you saw here first – but alas it is gone! Fear not, I have made sure that all the previous pages are archived. They are currently on my personal site and you can browse them from there. I suspect that we may transfer the content onto the College server in due course. For now, pay me a visit and/or get the archive details here

Exams

There are developments pending in the major intercollegiate examinations – both MRCS and FRCS. Moves are afoot to introduce a computer based platform for the written components of the “exit” examination. This will do away with the major single site paper based assessment. Candidates will have access without the need to travel very far and without the need for an overnight stay. I am hopeful that we can advance to the so called CBT (computer based test) within the next year or so. The new version of the MRCS will also include an entirely new OSCE style examination with sections on Anatomy and Surgical Pathology, Patient Safety and Surgical Skills, Physiology, Communication and Clinical skills.

If you know of any junior colleagues who might welcome a “heads up” on the new test by participating in a pilot exam – one is being held in early April in Sheffield, please let me know and I can help facilitate.

If you would like an additional string to your bow and can develop an interest in exams and assessment you are now invited to apply for the Chair I am due to vacate in the summer of 2008. The Chairmanship of the JCIE has been advertised. Time to start manoeuvring for position.

 

Tooke - again! This time the government's response

No one is fooled. This is not going to have any influence on the manpower problems which are just about to be brought into focus again this year. The Secretary of State has issued a formal response to the Tooke report on MMC. There are significant changes in the near future and likely changes which will affect all specialist within the UK in the medium term. Find the document here.

 

BTMH

This appears in the regular College mailings. Worth a look every now and again. Find it here.

Ever consider type 2 diabetes a surgical condition – more next time. Keep stamping out disease!

David Galloway