The Faculty of Surgical Trainers (FST) recently held its annual conference on Friday 13 October 2023, themed "Excising the Barriers," which drew widespread acclaim from attendees for its engaging content, diverse discussions, and insightful workshops. The conference aimed to address and dismantle the multifarious barriers within surgical training and practice, fostering a culture of inclusivity, understanding, and enhanced collaboration across the surgical community.
Feedback from participants highlighted a rekindled enthusiasm for training, a deeper understanding of the trainee-trainer relationship, and valuable insights into addressing equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) issues. Workshops and sessions on managing struggling trainees, recognizing unconscious biases, and multi-professional networking were particularly praised for their relevance and impact. The conference successfully facilitated thought-provoking discussions on privilege, challenges faced by surgical trainees, and strategies for fostering positive changes in the training environment.
The relevance and delivery of each session were rated highly by attendees, with particular commendation for the panel discussion on barriers in surgical training, which received a 100% approval rating for content relevance. Workshops on mentoring, managing bullying, and trainee/trainer relationships also garnered high praise, reflecting the conference's success in addressing critical issues within the surgical field.
Participants left the conference with a wealth of knowledge and actionable insights, including:
The diversity of speakers, the opportunity for open discussions, and the engaging format of debates and panel discussions were among the aspects most appreciated by attendees. The hands-on workshops and the keynote speeches were highlighted for their inspiring and thought-provoking content. The conference also facilitated valuable networking opportunities, allowing participants to connect with peers and experts from various regions and specialties.
An impressive 94% of attendees reported that they would make changes to their practice as a result of the insights gained during the conference. Furthermore, the conference met the expectations of all participants, with 100% willing to recommend it to colleagues and 94% expressing interest in attending future courses at the centre.
The "Excising the Barriers" conference has set a new benchmark for addressing the pressing issues facing the surgical community today. Through a combination of expert-led discussions, interactive workshops, and comprehensive sessions, the conference has empowered attendees to advocate for positive change within their practices and the wider surgical training environment. We look forward to our next conference!
Due to essential systems maintenance and upgrades there will be interruptions to some on-line services on Saturday 19th of August.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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