MEET THE TEAM
PROFESSOR CAMILLA CARROLL RCSI COUNCIL MEMBER, CONSULTANT OTOLARYNGOLOGY HEAD AND NECK SURGEON
Nationality: Irish
Hobbies: Sailing, Reading and Yoga
What advice would you give your younger self?
“Dream big, work hard, always remain humble. Our patients are at the centre of everything we do”
I am really pleased to introduce myself to our Affiliate Members and talk to you about my role as an RCSI Surgeon Educator, Examiner and RCSI Member of Council.
My name is Camilla Carroll and I am a Consultant Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin.
From a very early age, I was fascinated with surgery. My dad was a neurosurgeon at the National Neurosurgical Centre in Dublin, having graduated from RCSI in 1960 So perhaps it was not too surprising, that I followed in his footsteps and studied medicine at RCSI, graduating with honours in 1985. I was soon followed by my 2 sisters, both of whom graduated from RCSI and are practicing physicians here in Dublin
As a surgical trainee in the mid 1980s and early 1990s, there were very few women in surgical training in Ireland or the UK At postgraduate level, all of my surgical trainers and examiners were men. Now we have data to suggest, that a diverse surgical workforce is associated with better quality of patient care.
Therefore as a Consultant Surgeon, I have worked closely with medical students at RCSI and TCD School of Medicine to showcase surgery as a career choice, while at the same time encouraging more women to look at the rewarding career opportunities associated with the “Life of a Surgeon”
I have had the opportunity to serve as Faculty President with the RCSI Surgical Society and Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) and established the TCD AWS Chapter in 2019. During this time, the RCSI Affiliate Members Programme was established This was a wonderful opportunity to develop a close connection between the student surgical societies and the Affiliate Programme
I believe, that the Affiliate programme will now play a crucial role in shaping the future engagement of our medical students and trainees with the RCSI Postgraduate Surgical Training Body, as they move closer to embarking upon a career in surgery.
RCSI AWS Mentoring Saturday 2023
The role of the postgraduate “Surgeon Educator” has evolved significantly over the past decade. At RCSI, we have a state-of-theart surgical skills centre with simulation and competency-based training delivered by the “Faculty of Surgical Trainers”
I am very proud to be part of this group of Educators, having undertaken advanced training in the delivery of surgical education, at Masters level, at Imperial College London.
As an RCSI Surgeon Educator, you are at the forefront of the latest advancements and research in the field of surgery, which is very exciting This exposure allows me to continually expand my own knowledge and expertise.
It is a great privilege engaging with aspiring surgeons, guiding them through their training, and providing constructive feedback Being able to mentor and support these doctors, as they develop their surgical skills is incredibly fulfilling. It is a real opportunity to make a positive impact on their professional journey.
Evaluating the knowledge and skills of aspiring surgeons is an integral part of being a Surgeon Educator At RCSI competency assessment, enabling trainees to progress to the next stage of their careers takes place when doctors sit the MRCSI examinations. It is a great privilege to be part of the RCSI Court of Examiners for the MRCSI in Dublin and Bahrain and the Fellowship examinations with College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA)
Globally, the WHO estimate that 5 billion people have limited access to safe, affordable, and timely surgical care. RCSI in partnership with COSECSA, has been working for over a decade to remove the barriers patients face in accessing safe surgical care. This partnership has led to the development of surgical educational and assessment programmes for the region. As a COSECSA Fellowship Examiner, being part of this very important work in preparing the future COSECSA surgical workforce to deliver this much needed surgical care, is a great personal privilege
As a postgraduate surgical examiner, I have the opportunity to connect with a diverse range of professionals in the field of surgery. Over the years, I have built professional relationships with surgical colleagues all over the world. The Court of Examiners facilitates the exchange of ideas and offers many opportunities to collaborate with other experts in advancing surgical education and patient care, nationally and internationally
RCSI has over 11,000 Members and Fellows, from 89 countries In 2016, I was elected by RCSI Members and Fellows to the Council of RCSI, a position I still hold As a Council member, you are a senior decision maker within the Irish Surgical community responsible for development of strategy and policy in the delivery of surgical education and training in Ireland. I am very grateful to my colleagues, who have afforded me the opportunity to serve as an RCSI Council Member I am deeply committed to advancing equality, diversity and service to society, through RCSI’s educational programmes
To all of the Affiliate Members reading this article over the coming days, the life of a surgeon is unique and immensely rewarding. Delivering surgical care to my patients continues to be a “joy and a privilege”. Being an active Member of RCSI has enabled me to be part of a Global Surgical Community, expand my horizons and offered me the opportunity to grow as a surgical educator and leader.
RCSI Membership Exams Bahrain 2023 Dr Joyce Chege General Surgery COSECSA Trainee, RCSI Award 2019