TEACH (The Eastern And Cambridge Hospitals) Orthopaedics Meeting
“….and the 2018 winner is EOE ORTHOPAEDICS!” 140 attendees for the day & 115 for dinner, the greatest number since records began. That is a fitting summary for the TEACH Orthopaedics Scientific Meeting & Dinner that took place on Friday 23/3/18.
However, that would not explain the tremendous work that has taken place behind the scenes.
(If you are wondering why I am not using the acronym for Cambridge Orthopaedic Club then please familiarise yourself with #Times Up, #MeToo etc. We are rebranding and open to suggestions from All members.)
Congratulations to Liz Tissingh, who told us about her experience in the DRC and fittingly was crowned the trainee of the year for her contribution to global Orthopaedics. Her friends and colleagues in the Congo have taught her many skills that could not be learnt here in the Democratic Republic of Cambridge & the hope for the region is that we can provide Liz with support and the tools to continue her work, which will be ongoing. Perhaps Liz can create a programme where some of the trainees will join her like they do with the Addenbrookes Abroad programme in Myanmar?
The array of speakers was fascinating and stimulating from the emotional intelligence illustrated by Prof Herb Van Schroeder of Toronto, & the scientific rigour during the journey of meniscal transplant by Prof Rene Verdonk of Belgium, quoting Alan Getgood (a past pupil of TEACH Orthopaedics Rotation.)
The contrast between Prof Lavy of Oxford, and his tour de force of global Orthopaedics, compared with the engrossing story of the political history within the Direct Anterior Approach to hip surgery by Prof Richard Field was like chalk and cheese yet both had us gripped and hankering for more.
In between these eminent speakers, we were privileged to see and listen to a diverse array of trainee presentations. Although, there were only 10 of these, they were of high quality and justified their 7 mins of air time. 
Congratulations to Mike Dunne for a giant result for his LiLiPut test presentation. Similarly, Kenan Kursumovic maximised his 60 seconds to be head and shoulders above his peers in the JAM session. 
A particular highlight was the medical student presentation section with a delegate from UCL as well. The quality of all the presentations were fantastic and many of the senior trainees commented on how the presentations were as good as the trainees, if not better. Congratulations to Abbas See, the winner, and also to Zaamin, Callum, Katie & Jonathan who all have a bright future in Orthopaedics should they choose to practice with the specialty. Next year we encourage all medical schools within the vicinity to apply.
Many thanks to Vikas Khanduja and Ross Coomber for putting the programme together. A special note on this, in that the time and effort required is massive and as TEACH Orthopaedics will continue to grow, the Secretary, will require support.
A year does not go by without Mike Barrett being mentioned & this year is no different. Many of the features of the day have been facilitated by his technical wizardry and Ross wanted us to be the DRC, with a vote for each of us for all the presentations. For the first year I heard of no complaints with respect to the winning presentations, another victory for the day!
That holds true for the final 2 winners too.
Congratulations to Luton on becoming the first training hospital of the year to be selected on facts and figures, Matthew Porteous of WSH & the NJR, always says that you cannot argue with that, although Duckworth Lewis formula to be applied next year.
My favourite congratulations is to Anish Sanghrajka, a Colossus of Education, he is an inspirational winner of Trainer of the Year and I’m particularly proud to be working in the same region, if not the same Hospital with him.
The final note of celebration is to Phil Johnston, who is fostering an atmosphere of equality, diversity and fairness amongst the trainers as well as trainees. This sharing and nurturing of colleagues will provide a stronger team of trainers who can help promote the region as “probably the Best Orthopaedic training rotation in the World.” The leadership and organisation exuded by Ross Coomber certainly put him as the “best in class and is why we need a dedicated team to help maintain his vision of EOETEA (East of England Teaching & Education Agreement.)
Regards

Niel Kang
FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Director of Education
Trauma & Orthopaedic Higher Surgical Training
East of England Deanery

Associate Lecturer
Cambridge University School of Clinical Medicine