From the Editor Indu Deglurkar

From the Editor

Indu Deglurkar, Publishing Secretary, SCTS

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.’’ – Franklin D Roosevelt

Happy New Year. As we embark into 2022, the COVID pandemic continues to wreak havoc with the Omicron variant. The toll on well-being, lives and resources continues relentlessly. Change is not easy, but the pandemic has rapidly accelerated behavioural changes in the way we work and emphasised the importance of the deeper connection of our interpersonal meetings. We have definitively moved into a new hybrid horizon at work, with a mixture of virtual and physical interaction.

It has been a difficult year beyond the problem of the pandemic. Our President Simon Kendall’s article highlights the main themes identified as sources of conflict and the importance of teamwork. Narain Moorjani as Honorary Secretary describes the numerous initiatives taken by the SCTS to develop a diverse workforce and provide equal opportunities. 2022 will see the introduction of the themed ST4 entry into Thoracic surgery and the ST1 entry in Cardiac surgery. The refreshing enthusiasm displayed by the medical students in the INSINC committee is indicative of very engaged and highly motivated students. The reports from the various committees emphasises the hard work and drive to ensure overall development as a specialty.

We publish the results of the first ever national SCTS E, D & I survey in Cardiothoracic surgery, with an excellent response rate of 31.9% from a naturally diverse group of Surgeons from 44 nations. The rich insight and information derived from this survey highlights the current dynamics in our specialty and the challenging work that is needed to make our specialty equitable and enjoyable. We welcome letters to the Editor with your ideas to develop various work streams and collectively make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is not all about black and ethnic minority and should not actually become a barrier between people. These issues have been globally prevalent for centuries but were brought to the forefront during the COVID pandemic. We are one race of distinctly diverse individuals who should maintain their individuality and be allowed to flourish. We are capable of achieving this cultural competence and I see the 269 suggestions received from the members

as the aspirational “dream environment.” Coincidentally, the article by Anupama Barua highlights the difficulties faced by women in surgery and Chimezie Okorocha’s article makes an impressive comparison of various strategies adopted by the RCS and SCTS in promoting E, D & I. I would like to thank our patron Mr Marian Ionescu for his enriching suggestion to insert the Hippocratic Oath and the Student song into the Bulletin, to add a scholarly look to the Fellowship supplements. I am hoping the excellent articles in this Bulletin will evoke comments, “As we navigate through turbulent times, it suggestions and responses that will is well within our gift to make that New Year contribute to the improvement of resolve that we will contribute to a congenial, our fraternity. Finally, the very collaborative, creative, positive and vibrant act of making a new year resolution invites environment and move closer to our dream a degree of honesty workplace. Harmonised goals with an and acceptance of the current state and a agreement on clear ground rules and agreeing key to improvement. As we navigate to norms of behaviour is crucial for building through turbulent times, it is well within the psychological safety in teams.” our gift to make that New Year resolve that we will contribute to a congenial, collaborative, creative, positive and vibrant environment and move closer to our dream workplace. Harmonised goals with an agreement on clear ground rules and agreeing to norms of behaviour is crucial for building the psychological safety in teams. Trust and respect are critical and let us dedicate ourselves to strengthen our teams. Look forward to hearing from you. n indu.deglurkar@wales.nhs.uk