UCT Surgical Society reaches out

The UCT Surgical Society has kicked off a series of events aimed at enhancing the development and interest in all aspects of surgery, medical research and leadership.

The student-driven society launched their programme on 17 February with a lecture by Professor Alp Numanoglu from UCT's Department of Paediatric Surgery, titled Separation of Conjoined Twins.

Future events planned for the year include a surgical forum, Making the Most of Your Medical School Career and How to Become a Surgeon, hosted by UCT's Chair of Clinical Medicine, Professor Vanessa Burch and Head of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Professor Anthony Figaji, on 11 March, and a surgical lecture on 7 April, Life in the Trauma Unit. Other events planned for 2010 include surgical talks, forums and conferences.

Affiliated with the Department of Surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital, the UCT Surgical society was established in 2006 by a group of UCT medical students. It has since grown into one of the largest societies on campus, as well as one of the largest student surgical societies in the world with more than 730 members this year.

"Outreach is also a major programme that is intended for the year," says society president, Thadathilankal John. "We are planning to host children from disadvantaged communities and take them on a tour of the world famous Cape Town Heart Museum at Groote Schuur Hospital. Research, as promoted by UCT, is also being tackled this year, and we already have two papers waiting to be published in internationally acclaimed journals."

The society has recently been amalgamated into the Association of Surgeons of South Africa, a branch of the South African Medical Association.

"This is a huge achievement for the Surgical Society and UCT," says John.