A talented medical student from the University of Newcastle has come out on top in a prestigious national surgical competition.
It is the 2nd year running that a student from the University of Newcastle has taken home the top prize.
The acclaimed competition, run by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) in partnership with Medtronic and now in its seventh year, sees medical students from across the UK and Ireland demonstrate their surgical talents in a series of challenges.
Tom Adamson, a keen climber and violinist, came first in RCSEd’s celebrated competition, which saw over 1300 students apply to take part, with 40 qualifying for the Grand Final.
Tom said: “I think all those hours of bouldering and violin have finally paid off.”
“I was thrilled to take home the top prize on the day, especially when considering I’m amongst some incredibly impressive peers from across the country’s top medical colleges.
“The RCSEd reps were incredibly insightful and patient with us on the day. I learned a lot throughout the process, and it has really got me considering surgery as a specialism. I’d strongly urge any medical students to give next year’s competition a go.”
Eric Dos Santos a final year Venezuelan student at the University of Liverpool, finished in second place, while Natalie Mojica, fourth year Canadian student at the University of Birmingham, finished in third.
Professor Angus Watson, Member of the RSCEd Council and organiser of the Surgical Skills competition, has taken inspiration from his recent deployments to the Ukraine and Gaza, introducing two new humanitarian surgical skills tests, with the aim of inspiring the students to consider humanitarian healthcare as a profession.
The competition comprised three stages, with the first round consisting of an online quiz and virtual surgery challenge, which whittled down the top performers from each medical school to move onto the next stage.
In the second round of the competition, organisers decided to keep the innovative virtual stage that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, when RCSEd partnered with artificial body part manufacturer OrganLike and medical technology leader Medtronic to create a special “surgical theatre in a box” which students used to carry out a variety of surgical challenges.
The final was held in RCSEd’s distinguished grounds on Nicholson St in the Scottish Capital’s Old Town, where the 40 finalists competed in a series of challenges such as suturing bananas, anatomy tests, laparoscopic skills, and opportunity to practice with a combat tourniquet and orthopaedic trauma.
Professor Angus Watson commented: “Another thrilling final – the response we received from students across the UK last year was incredibly heartwarming.
“This past year, our primary aim was to widen the competition’s horizon to welcome all medical students, fostering a keen interest in the surgical field. Our goal was to highlight the critical role of basic surgical skills, not just for those on a surgical path but for a broad spectrum of medical careers.
“The enthusiasm and calibre of entries we received was truly inspiring. It’s my hope that we’ve encouraged numerous students to contemplate surgery as a viable and rewarding career option. Considering the exceptional quality of submissions, our winners have every reason to be exceptionally proud of what they’ve achieved. I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in making this event a success.”
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