The Association of Surgeons in Training is to launch a mentoring pilot scheme to provide additional support for trainees

The concept of a ‘mentor’ has existed since appearing in Greek mythology, and appeared in the academic literature in the late 1970s, after which it has gained increasing popularity. Traditionally, in the health world, it has involved a more senior clinician taking someone more junior under their wing and helping them with professional development. For the most part, there has been no training for the role of mentor and the quality of mentoring has been variable. More formally, mentorship describes an active developmental relationship whereby a mentor facilitates maximisation of potential and the achievement of personal and professional goals in a mentee.

Newcastle medical student Jonathan Cheung reviews Foundation Skills in Surgery, run jointly by ASiT and BOTA

The Foundation Skills in Surgery course is aimed at medical students and Foundation doctors aspiring to a career in surgery and gives participants grounding in basic surgical skills.

The Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) expanded the geographic breadth of the course, now in its fourth year, to been run locally in Derby, Plymouth and London, as well as a pre-conference course in Sheffield.

The Association of Surgeons in Training has provided a pan-specialty focus for excellence in surgical training for over 30 years

The Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) is an educational charity working to promote excellence in surgical training across all nine surgical disciplines. Run by trainees, for trainees, the Association was originally founded in 1976 as a forum for senior registrars to meet socially and discuss matters relating to training. Over the past 30 years the Association has grown in size and stature and is now one of the largest surgical specialty associations in the UK and Ireland with over 2,200 current active members from all specialties.

The structure of ASiT Council consists of trainees from each recognised surgical specialty trainee group, and each School of Surgery. In recent years there has also been an expansion of ASiT’s junior representation through the appointment of dedicated medical student and foundation doctor representatives.

ASiT provides support for trainees’ educational and career development through a wide range of initiatives. Our two Covidien Travelling Fellowships awarded annually to senior trainees headline a number of awards and prizes to support individuals progressing through surgical training. ASiT also now offers many incentives for junior members including two Elsevier Surgical Elective Bursaries awarded annually, a dedicated ASiT conference session, a Foundation Doctors Surgical Essay Prize and an annual Foundation Doctors Seminar, which is free to members and prepares delegates for core surgical training applications.

The Association also works to support surgical trainers going the extra mile to help their trainees master the science and art of surgery. Now in its eleventh year, the annual Swann-Morton Silver Scalpel Award is a trainee-nominated prize for a consultant who has demonstrated excellence in surgical training. It provides important support and recognition for individuals who have put in the extra time for their trainees.

The annual meeting of the Association of Surgeons in Training was held in Sheffield from 15 to 17 April

The 2011 ASiT Conference saw nearly 500 delegates attending from across the UK and Ireland. The opportunity to meet and socialise with other surgical trainees together with an unforgettable Gala Dinner Party, clinical updates, trainee prize presentations and the chance to question Royal College Presidents and surgical leaders set the scene for a great weekend.

 

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