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Council Highlights October 2020

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The Council met in person where safe at the RACS offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Wellington and via secure video conference on 29-30 October 2020. The current members are:

 

Office bearers

Dr Tony Sparnon (President) 
Associate Professor Julie Mundy (Vice President)
Dr Greg Witherow (Treasurer)
Associate Professor Phillip Carson (Censor in Chief)
Dr Sally Langley (Chair Professional Development & Standards Board)

Office holders
Professor Christopher Pyke (Chair Court of Examiners)
Mr Adrian Anthony (Chair Board of Surgical Education and Training)
Dr Jennifer Chambers (Chair Prevocational & Skills Education Committee)
Associate Professor Kerin Fielding (Chair SIMG Assessments)
Professor Andrew Hill (Chair Professional Standards)
Dr Lawrie Malisano (Chair Professional Development)
Ms Ruth Bollard (Chair Fellowship Services)
Professor Mark Frydenberg (Chair Research and Academic Surgery)
Mr John Crozier (Chair Surgical Audit)
Dr Christine Lai (Deputy Treasurer)
Dr Annette Holian (Chair Global Health Programs Steering Group)
Professor Owen Ung (Chair ASC, Conference & Events)

Fellowship Elected Councillors
Dr Sarah Coll
Dr Rebecca Jack
Dr Maxine Ronald
Professor Henry Woo

Specialty Elected Councillors
Professor Mark Ashton 
Dr Mark Dexter
Professor David Fletcher
Professor Raymond Sacks

Co-opted Councillors
The Hon Rob Knowles (VIC Expert Community Advisor)
Ms Souella Cumming (Expert Community Advisor)
Dr James Churchill (Chair, RACSTA)
Dr Nishanthi Gurusinghe (representing Tasmanian Fellows)

Observers
Dr Vanessa Beavis (ANZCA President)
Dr Upeksha (Pecky) De Silva (Chair Younger Fellows Committee)

Professional Development Committee reporting line

Council approved the Professional Development Committee (PDC) moving from reporting to the Professional Development and Standards Board (PDSB) to the Education Board (EB). For further information contact the Executive General Manager Fellowship Engagement. 

Rural Health Equity

Council approved the implementation of the overarching strategy for rural health equity across all RACS portfolios as well as establishing a high-level taskforce for managing the principles outlined in the framework and prioritising the recommendations for implementation. For further information, contact the Executive General Manager Fellowship Engagement. 

Global Health Scholarships Governance

Council approved the establishment of the Global Health Expert Selection Panel for the review and selection of scholars for the Global Health Scholarship Program. For further information, contact the Chief Operating Officer.

Admissions to Fellowship

Congratulations to the following who have been admitted to Fellowship recently.

General Surgery
Dr Daniel Lee 
Dr Sandun Lakmal Abeyasundara
Dr Marie Shella De Robles

RACS Awards

Congratulations to the following RACS Award recipients:

Singular Awards
Award for Excellence in Surgery
Dr Bryan Ch. Mendelson FRACS

Sir Alan Newton Surgical Education Medal
Dr Ian William Incoll FRACS


Distinguished Awards
John Corboy Medal
Dr A. Anna Morrow

ESR Hughes Award
Mr Neil A. Vallance FRACS

RACS International Medal
Mr Keith L.A. Mutimer FRACS

Colin McRae Medal
Mr Andrew B. Connolly FRACS

Rural Surgeons Award
Mr Bal Krishan FRACS


The meeting farewelled with thanks to the outgoing Councillor:
James Churchill RACSTA Co-opted Councillor.

Recent publications

The following have recently been published in peer reviewed journals:

  • Tan L, Tivey D, Kopunic H, Babidge W, Langley S and Maddern G. (2020). Artificial intelligence technology in surgery: part 1. ANZ J. Surg.  [10.1111/ans.16343] 
  • Stewart SK, Vu J and McCulloch GAJ. (2020). Necrotising fasciitis deaths in Australia: patient characteristics and potential areas for improvement in clinical management. ANZ J. Surg. [10.1111/ans.16228]