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A tale of two surgeons The Clinical Trials Australia and New Zealand builds on its success with the support and participation of Fellows, surgical Trainees, junior doctors and medical students
The RACS Clinical Trials Australia and New Zealand (CTANZ) continues to build on its successes, which would not have been possible without the support and participation of keen Fellows, surgical Trainees, junior doctors and medical students. The energy and enthusiasm of our network members have been the key to ensuring that the multicentred national and global collaborative projects that CTANZ has been involved with have delivered on stated outcomes. Put simply, the CTANZ model (a network of multicentred collaboratives) works because of its people. Associate Professor Tarik Sammour is a Surgical Specialty Lead (SSL) for STARC (South Australian Trainees Audit & Research Collaborative) and Dr Su Kah Goh is Co-Chair (Trainee Lead) for
VERITAS (Victorian Collaborative for Education, Research, Innovation, Training and Audit by Surgical Trainees). Both have contributed to many collaborative studies including the COVIDSurg series, COVIDCARE, Single Use Negative pRessure dressings for Reduction In Surgical site infection following Emergency Laparotomy (SUNRRISE) Trial, PeRiOperative Timing in EleCtive Thromboprophylaxis in General surgery (PROTECTinG), POST operative Variability in anaemia Treatment and Transfusion (POSTVenTT) and Survey to evaluate the Outpatient clinic experience in Surgical education and training using cloud based resources (SOS). In this Q and A, we ask Associate Professor Tarik Sammour (TS) and Dr Su Kah Goh (SKG) on what it means to be a part of the CTANZ collaborative. What about a CTANZ supported studies drew you in to participate? TS: I was inspired to participate because of CTANZ’s collaborative nature and adequate power in study designs that are statistically rigorous. That way we are confident about the findings of our studies. SKG: Multicentre Trainee-led collaborative enables the study of clinically relevant questions. The findings from these studies can potentially improve current clinical practices. Participating in these studies encourages collaborators of all levels — from interns to consultants — to interact and work together. Why did you put your hand up to be the SSL/Trainee lead? TS: I was asked to be an SSL and felt it was a privilege to be able to support these projects. It was particularly vital to foster Trainees and students when getting the CTANZ initiative up and running in its early stages.
SKG: VERITAS has a growing track record of successfully conducting multicentre Trainee led collaborative studies including SOS, PROTECTing, and COVIDCARE. Along with my co-chair, David Liu, we were invited to participate in the POSTVENtt study as state leads. It was a privilege for us to coordinate the participation of 14 Victorian regional and metropolitan hospitals and oversee the completion of this unique prospective study on the impacts of anaemia in major surgery. What learnings can you pass onto the next person who will fill this position? TS: Always be mindful that CTANZ projects exist to foster Trainee-led and executed projects, with the SSL serving as support, rather than the other way around. SKG: As a Trainee lead, you will learn that a lot can be achieved in a very short time. Teamwork is key and you will learn the importance of being a team player. Sound leadership and
