Ortho Update 2022

The BOA Orthopaedic Update held on the 8th of January 2022 was a virtual course that has contributed an immense amount of knowledge and understanding for me. I am an ST6 trainee in the East of England Deanery and due to approach my exams next year. This course has not only consolidated my knowledge but also has given me practice and taught me a method of how to approach vivas.

The course included pre-course learning material in the form of short lectures distributed to candidates. These lectures were delivered by experienced faculty members who had intricate knowledge in their areas of subspeciality. They delivered lectures expanding on avenues of how to assess conditions and how to manage conditions with good references from evidence-based practice.

On the day of the course we were allocated to groups over zoom. These groups were rotated around the faculty for viva style learning. Cases were presented as they would be in the exam setting and each case lead to questioning about various fields of expertise in orthopaedics. The organising team were excellent in the smooth allocation of rooms and dividing groups of candidates at a similar level. In my personal experience as my level of training had changed since the course application, the organisers were very considerate and allocated me to another group. The interaction with the faculty was amazing. The interaction started as a case-based discussion which lead to a viva style questioning and discussion. I felt very supported and the questions that I did not know the answers to were very well explained. I did not feel under pressure to know all the answers to the given questions but felt supported to be pushed to attempt answering the questions using my own knowledge and experience.

I would highly recommend this course to my colleagues at all levels. This course is well organised and very educative in day-to-day practice and exam preparation.