Deputy Directors Appointed

Alexander Phillips and David O’Regan have been appointed as deputy directors for FST.

Alexander Phillips, a consultant oesophagogastric surgeon at the Northern Oesophagogastric Cancer unit in Newcastle, carried out his surgical training in the North East of England and Oxford deanery. He has a keen interest in surgical education, particularly educational research, and hopes to develop the FST’s Educational Research Special Interest Group.

David O’Regan is a consultant cardiac surgeon in Leeds. As ASiT president in 1999, he initiated the Silver Scalpel Award which recognised the best surgical trainer in the UK. He has copied the process for the European Association for Cariothoracic Surgeons with the Leonardo da Vinci Award for Training Excellence. His research interest is the use of low fidelity models for the practice and rehearsal of the ergonomics of surgery.
 
Craig McIlhenny, FST Surgical Director said: "I am delighted to be able to appoint two deputy surgical directors of the Faculty. Having just hosted our fifth annual conference and with the launch of our strategic plan for the next five years, to have two surgeons with a firm commitment to supporting trainers is a fantastic opportunity. Alexander Phillips has a proven track record in surgical education research and has already led the way in development of the Faculty in his role on the Faculty governance group and his initiation of our educational research group. David O’Regan was a speaker at the very first FST conference, is the instigator of the Silver Scalpel award, and I am delighted that he is now joining us in a leadership role. I very much look forward to working with them both to continue to drive the Faculty to being the leading voice for surgical trainers in the UK and worldwide."
 
David O'Regan, FST Deputy Director (@david_ukan) added “The FST is the first to formally recognise the importance of the surgical trainer in the UK. I have long held the opinion that you can have the most innovative training programme you like but it is not going to go anywhere without a good trainer. I am looking forward to working with the founder Mr Craig McIlhenny and my co-appointee Mr Alexander Phillips to realise the statement of Health Education England that a surgical trainer role should be considered akin to a badge of honour. It is an honour and a privilege.”
 
Alexander Phillips, FST Deputy Director commented "I am delighted to take on this role with David O'Regan at an important time for surgical trainers. There have been many changes in the way surgical training occurs and the FST seeks to highlight the importance of trainers and help improve the quality of training. Surgical education research is a growing area as we seek to refine how training is provided and I hope that the FST will be able to facilitate quality educational research that will benefit trainees globally."