Each year, the Academy of Surgical Educators presents the Educator of Merit Awards to recognise the exceptional contributions of our surgical educators.

The Educator of Merit Awards include two key categories:

• SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year Award honours outstanding contributions to the development and support of Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs). This award is presented in every state and territory across Australia and in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Facilitator/Instructor of the Year Award acknowledges the significant contributions of the course facilitators or instructors who have demonstrated excellence in teaching professional development or skills education courses.
  

See the full list of 2024 winners here announced in December.

These winners have exemplified the College’s values, goals, and mission. As exceptional teachers and role models, they inspire and support Trainees in their ongoing surgical education.
Meet our SET/SIMG Supervisor of the Year awardees and read about their experiences in surgical education. 

Dr Damien Holdaway, a vascular surgeon based in Geelong, was awarded the SET/SIMG Supervisor of the Year 2024 for Victoria.

What inspired you to pursue surgical education?
“I have always found the process of teaching and being taught fascinating. The various models used to convey information—how effective they are, their applicability to the individual concerned—are all interesting. Some SET respond well to the pressure, gruelling Q and A; others not. Some need to see and feel a patient with a disease. Others just the imaging.”

What is your proudest moment as a surgical educator?
“It has been watching the Trainees come back as surgeons who now work with me in Geelong. We now have three such people in our unit.”

Any advice for new surgical educators just getting started?
“Be on the lookout. There are great clinical cases; write them down and revisit them with the Trainee when you have a less time pressured setting. I often ask private patients to come to my rooms to function as long or short cases. This often is the only time a Trainee has done a structured, observed assessment in years. Trainees generally remember a clinical issue, or a management plan if it is married to a patient—it cements the condition in the doctor’s mind.”

Dr Andrew Ing, is a general surgeon and member of the RACS Skills course faculty based in Aotearoa New Zealand. He was the recipient of the Facilitator/Instructor of the Year 2024, awarded across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

What inspired you to pursue surgical education?
“I was exposed to all styles of education as a Trainee—some good, some bad. I wondered how I could become better as a teacher and was encouraged by a colleague to teach on CCrISP®. I felt like I found my people on that first course.”

What is your proudest moment as a surgical educator?
“It’s always great to take a Trainee on a run or on a course who lacks confidence. I usually find I can pick up on that and help them grow. Often, they are young surgeons who feel they just don’t fit in. Empathy in that situation comes easily.”

Any advice for new surgical educators just getting started?
“Put yourself out there. Teach on a course. Remember that the styles of teaching that resonated with you will only help some people. We all learn in different ways.”

We will feature more of our 2024 Educator of Merit Award winners in upcoming issues of Surgical News.
Nominations for the 2025 Educator of Merit Awards will open in May. Keep an eye on our awards webpage and look out for updates in Fax Mentis and Surgical News.