SCTS Education Report

Sri Rathinam, SCTS Education Secretary Carol Tan, SCTS Education Secretary

As we reflect on 2021, we recognise and are grateful to the hard work put in by everyone involved in SCTS education to get our programmes almost back fully up and running. We are humbled by the enthusiasm not only of our committee members, but also by the additional offer of time and expertise from both established and new faculty members to help us catch up on courses which were put on hold previously due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As long as pandemic restrictions are not imposed again, we expect to be back on track with all courses by the first half of 2022.

As ever, we have a few changes within the committee to report. The most significant of these is that we bid farewell to Sri Rathinam, as he assumes the position of Communications Secretary for SCTS. Sri has spent eight years in SCTS Education, starting off as Thoracic Tutor in 2013 before becoming Education Secretary three years later. Together with Narain Moorjani, who was Cardiac Tutor at that time, they put together an ISCP syllabus aligned portfolio of courses for National Trainees, a structure which has continued for the last eight years. With the support from our industry partners and a common aim to provide better education to the cardiothoracic surgical community and therefore benefitting our patients, the courses have been delivered free of charge not only to trainees but also to all SCTS members. Over the years, Sri has been instrumental in establishing ongoing financial support for the education programme for our membership. We are grateful to Ethicon, Medtronic (Cardiac and Thoracic), Medistim, BD Medical, Terumo Aortic, Cryolife and Corza Medical, who have helped us tremendously this past year.

With each farewell comes new beginnings. We welcomed Deborah Harrington as Education Secretary (CoChair) and Elizabeth Belcher as Thoracic Surgical Tutor in November. As the largest subcommittee within SCTS, we aim to deliver even more in the coming year. Listening to feedback this past year, we also aim to return to more face-to-face events wherever possible, and ensure that all our members get equal opportunities for access to courses.

“A total of 173 fellowships have been awarded over the past decade to the wider cardiothoracic community to advance our skills and improve outcomes for our patients. Although (Mr Marian Ionescu) has decided to move on to different pursuits, we will always be grateful to him for showing us what is possible and will continue to build on his legacy.”

Ionescu collaboration:

SCTS has benefitted from the immense generosity of Mr Marian Ionescu over the past 10 years – University Day at the Annual Meeting, the Perspective book publications and fellowships. With the last round of fellowships awarded in September 2021 (see fellowship article), a total of 173 fellowships have been awarded over the past decade to the wider cardiothoracic community to advance our skills and improve outcomes for our patients. Although he has decided to move on to different pursuits, we will always be grateful to him for showing us what is possible and will continue to build on his legacy.

Consultant Education:

Education is a never-ending process and certainly should not stop when we become Consultants. With feedback from colleagues, the Leadership Consultant Masterclass has been put together as a series of four 2-hour virtual sessions. The sessions are led by Vijaya Nath, Founder and Director of Comtemplative Spaces, an experienced developer of Medical Leaders who has worked in this field for over 23 years. The first of four virtual sessions focusing on Leadership, Team Working and Teaming in a High performing Cardiothoracic Unit took place in the summer, with the second session due to take place in December. Feedback from attendees has been excellent and we encourage our consultant colleagues to find time in their busy schedule and not miss out on this golden opportunity. In addition, there will be a webinar on The Virtues for a Cardiothoracic Surgeon scheduled this year, aiming to look through the lens of virtue ethics rather than conventional ethics, how cardiac and thoracic surgeons develop their professional skills as consultants. Further information and booking of all courses can be found on the SCTS website through the events page.

NTN Education:

The Tutors’ report by Debbie Harrington and George Asimakopoulos shows how much work has continued through the pandemic and how much more is required in the coming months to complete all courses that were previously postponed. We are grateful to them for working tirelessly towards this, and to many more in the background without whom none of this would be possible.

TAD Education:

With easing of restrictions imposed by the pandemic, courses aimed at Trust Appointed Doctors have recommenced. We have addressed our objectives for trust doctors and recognise the need to provide equal opportunities for access to educational courses, but at the same time recognising that TADs have different needs. The Mentoring in Cardiothoracic Course as well as Professional Development Course for TADs took place in the summer on a virtual platform, both of which were well attended. The Cardiothoracic Update and Wetlab course will take place at Ashorne Hill in December and there will be a CESR course in the New Year. TADs will continue to have the opportunity to join NTNs in the professional development course and examination viva courses.

NAHP Education:

Our NAHP lead Bhuvana Krishnamoorthy, is now supported by a subcommittee and educational regional tutors to assist with running of webinars and courses. With the overflowing enthusiasm from the team, we will be seeing an expansion of the portfolio covering educational, audit and research needs of NAHPs.

Medical Student Education:

After the last two Student Engagement Days conducted virtually, the last Student Engagement Day took place as a face-to-face event in Leeds on 27th November.

There are so many involved in education, too many to name, that we would like to thank this past year. Our final word of gratitude has to go to Emma Piotrowski, our stalwart educational administrator, Taet Chesterton who has recently joined as a permanent member of the SCTS administrative team, Tilly Mitchell who oversees our accounts, is a whizz at social media and gets the word out for us and Isabelle Ferner, a fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things SCTS. We hope you have had a lovely Christmas and see you all in 2022. n

Competitively priced and now available to order on NHS Supply Chain. Product training and support material provided by CUI International Limited.