WIS in Adelaide 2017
Our Section once again, will feature in the
RACS Annual Scientific Congress' program for 2017 where we will regroup at the Adelaide Convention Centre between 8th and 12th May. Our WIS conveners this year are Melissa Bochner and Kate Drummond. We'll be welcoming A/Prof Rebecca Sippel, current President of the Association of Academic Surgeons and Chief of Division of Endocrine Surgery at the University of Wisconsin who will be speaking about mentoring and sponsorship. Also included in the program is Sandra Wong, the Surgical Oncology program visitor from the US and RACS Staff member Frances O'Connor, about the College complaints process. Our annual breakfast session and Annual Business Meeting on Thursday, 11th May will feature our President, Phil Truskett providing an updated on Building Respect and Improving Patient Safety Action plan.
'Flexing our muscle' in the Flexible Training debate
As a result of myself and Deputy Chair, Kate Drummond, presenting to the Board of Surgical Education and Training (BSET), a WIS representative was invited to present to a number of specialty training boards. BSET are on board with the concept and would like to see all training posts include reference to flexible training. Establishing MOUs with hospital networks is being considered to assist in the implementation. Highlighting inequities in parental leave for trainees was the subject of a recent letter to the Health Minister, advocating for recognition of time served in the public hospital system. It's a complex debate, but one we need to have.
Updating the WIS Strategic Plan
The WIS Section Committee met face-to-face on Friday, 24 February 2017 for a strategic planning meeting. The meeting offered an opportunity to review the existing strategy and develop a plan for the next four years in alignment with the RACS Strategic Plan, Business Plan, Diversity Plan and the Fellowship Services Strategy. In addition to the WIS Section Committee current and incoming members, a number of RACS Councillors were invited to attend the day.
The Committee are drafting an updated strategic plan with the following draft objectives:
- Leadership
- Role Modelling
- Flexible Training
- Advocacy
As part of "Leadership", the
Committee are still interested in hearing from anyone interested in being called upon to speak at various events - in particular, student conferences, workshops and seminars. If you enjoy volunteering your time to motivate and assist these groups, please send an expression of interest in the first instance to the WIS Secretariat.
Ruth Bollard FRACS
Chair, WIS Section Committee
Ruth can be found on Twitter @Ruthbollard
