The RCS Global Surgical Frontiers Conference 2013

Does working overseas benefit the NHS - and is surgery in developing countries good value for money compared to public health? These are just two of the topics that will be discussed at this year’s Royal College of Surgeons Global Surgical Frontiers opportunities in surgery overseas conference. (Wednesday 16 January 2013)

The one-day conference on opportunities in international surgery will focus on linking surgeons at all stages in their careers with organisations in the developing world that work in a range of surgery settings.

As well as the topics above, Lord Kakkar will give a presentation on the work of the all-party parliamentary group on Global Health and Dr Iain Wilson, a consultant anaesthetist in Exeter, will discuss anaesthesia in resource poor settings drawing on his experience working as a lecturer in anaesthesia for two years in Zambia.

The aim of Global Surgical Frontiers is to act as a conduit between interested surgeons and organisations engaging in international surgical posts. The event will also provide relevant information for UK surgeons considering a placement in a developing country.
Speakers include:

• Lord Kakkar: A surgeon and fellow of the RCS, Lord Kakkar is a key member of the all-party parliamentary group on global health.
• Professor Chris Lavy: Consultant surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals and Honorary Professor at Oxford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.  Before this he worked for 12 years in Africa.
• Miss Kokila Lakhoo: Consultant paediatric surgeon at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford, clinical lead for paediatric surgery in Oxford. She is chair of the International Forum for the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons and is also personally developing paediatric surgery through a link in Tanzania.
• Mr Andy Leather: Consultant general surgeon at King’s College Hospital, London. He spent many years building up educational and clinical links between Kings College and Somaliland. He has also set up a course on global health at King’s College.

Chris Lavy, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and RCS College Council Member, said:

“Following the success of our first conference last year, it is vital that we continue to stimulate interest in the debate on global surgical issues amongst consultants trainees and students. Working overseas in developing countries gives UK surgeons the opportunity of supporting their colleagues in resource poor environments. It also provides the opportunity to aid teaching, research and clinical work as well as develop a deeper understanding of global issues in health care.”

Organisations including Medecins Sans Frontiers, Merlin and Mercy Ships will be invited to present and display their work at the conference.  There will also be presentations from the editors of the Lancet and the BMJ on their priorities for global surgery.

For more information, please contact the RCS press office on:

• 020 7869 6047/ 6052
• communications@rcseng.ac.uk
• Out-of hours: 07966 486 832