Author: Dr Shehnarz Salindera, Chair, Younger Fellows Committee

I was invited to speak at the inaugural Younger Fellows session at the Hong Kong College of Surgeons Annual Conjoint Scientific Congress, a combined meeting with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). The congress took place on 4 November 2023 at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

The event was inspired after delegates from Hong Kong College of Surgeons attended the RACS Younger Fellows Forum in Adelaide Hills and Annual Scientific Congress, Adelaide in May 2023. Similarly, an RCSEd Forum also started about six years ago after attending an Australian Younger Fellows Forum.

The topic of the Conjoint Congress was 'Taking Minimally Invasive Surgery to the Next Level' and it was excellent to see how international Younger Fellows were tackling this important issue in regard to training standards and pathways.

Other issues discussed, such as post-fellowship training, work-life balance, and consultant job positions, were similar to the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand experience. A UK delegate also spoke on similar issues, but their focus was more on burnout in the National Health Service (NHS).

It was interesting to realise that RACS has a history of Younger Fellows Forums since 1985 and that we have inspired so many other Younger Fellows around the world to start their own sections and forums!

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Younger Fellows Forum 2024

The 2024 RACS Younger Fellows Forum will be held at the stunning Hanmer Springs Hotel, two hours from Christchurch, before the 2024 RACS Annual Scientific Congress. The forum will take place 2 - 4 May and the theme is The Future of Surgery.

The forum is an important opportunity for delegates to network with colleagues across Australasia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It also provides a direct voice from our future surgical leaders to RACS Council on key issues concerning the surgical profession.

Applications for the 2024 Younger Fellows Forum will open soon.  Visit the Younger Fellows webpage for more details.

Left to right: Dr Hon-Chi Yip, Dr Aung Myint Oo, Dr Shannon Melissa Chan, Dr Shehnarz Salindera, Nathan Stephens