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ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO CONSIDER A CAREER IN SURGERY – EXPERIENCES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND SURGICAL INTEREST SOCIETY
Author(s) -
Segar A. H.,
Insull P.,
Dare A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04930_12.x
Subject(s) - excellence , medicine , workforce , curriculum , apprenticeship , medical education , pedagogy , psychology , political science , linguistics , philosophy , law
Student interest in surgery is of paramount importance to the future of New Zealand's surgical workforce. Internationally, the proportion of graduates pursuing surgical training has fallen over recent years, with a shift towards “lifestyle” specialties. Furthermore, the changing medical undergraduate curricula, stretched teaching and clinical capacity, and changes to the apprenticeship model of training all pose challenges to creating a meaningful undergraduate surgical experience. With the support of the University of the Auckland Department of Surgery, we founded the University of Auckland Surgical Interest Society (UASIS) as a means to supplement the undergraduate surgical experience and encourage surgery as a career option. Although similar developments have occurred at overseas medical schools, this student led initiative is believed to be the first in New Zealand and possibly Australia. The UASIS has five core aims. These were to develop student interest in a surgical career, promote excellence in surgical anatomy, provide greater exposure to all surgical fields, promote student involvement in surgical research and create and maintain professional and academic relationships between students and surgeons. In the first three years, membership has been overwhelmingly high and feedback very positive. The aims of the group will be described and the extent to which these were achieved. Lessons learnt from this initial experience will also be discussed in order to facilitate similar initiatives at other medical schools. We believe by working together with students, surgeons and the College; the UASIS and other surgical societies will help to promote a strong, competent and sustainable surgical workforce.