Education

The perception of cardiothoracic surgery is often viewed as out of reach or unattainable. As a committee we are committed to making a career in cardiothoracic surgery achievable for all. The teaching series was designed to educate medical students and qualified doctors about the cardiothoracic surgery training pathway, dissecting the different components from how to apply, to what life will look like after securing a training number. 

During the 2023/24 academic year we hosted the following webinars: 

1. How to make a competitive application 

2. Cardiothoracic surgery training - overview

3. A guide to MRCS Part A+B and Surgical Portfolio 

4. Academic Surgery

5. Alternative pathways into cardiothoracic surgery 

6. Life after a training number

These webinars have reached hundreds of students/healthcare professionals from around the globe. Hosting the series on Medall provided an inclusive platform that allowed attendees to join free of charge, view the series and receive a certificate for their portfolio.

We have used the feedback from the first cycle to adjust the topics for the next session. The series will start again in September 2024, keep an eye out on social media for the schedule. 

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Bridging the Gap Between Aspiring Students and Cardiothoracic Surgery

The Student Engagement Day is an annual event designed to connect medical students with experienced surgeons and leaders in the field to motivate and educate them to pursue a career in cardiothoracics. This full-day event includes panel discussions, networking sessions, and surgical simulations, providing students with a real-life glimpse into the world of surgery. The event aims to encourage students to pursue careers in this challenging yet rewarding field, offering them guidance, mentorship, and the opportunity to explore various surgical specialties.

Our 2023 engagement day was held at Trinity College at The University of Oxford. 

Centred around the theme of ‘widening participation in cardiothoracic surgery’, the event showcased amazing talks and workshops to give students a taster into cardiothoracic surgery. Highlights included a special talk from Prof Stephen Westaby on his captivating journey, which left us inspired to build our own stories. Other key speakers included, Mr Rana Sayeed, Mrs Elizebeth Belcher and Mr Jean-Luc Duval who provided useful insight to the different areas of cardiothoracics as well as how we as students can create meaningful portfolios. Our sponsors, Ethicon and Medtronic, allowed for the vital hands-on aspect of the day with workshops in surgical and laparoscopic skills. It is clear that we have a talented generation of incoming surgeons!

The 2024 engagement day will be held in Cambridge, with further details to follow soon.