Educators of Merit

Get to know your Educators of Merit

Every year the Academy of Surgical Educators (ASE) presents the Educator of Merit award to recognise exceptional contributions by our surgical educators. Some 2020 winners share their thoughts on being an educator.

Educator of Merit – SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year (Victoria): Dr Kate Martin. Fellow since 2008.

How do you feel receiving the ASE Educator of Merit award? Very humbled! Teaching is a very rewarding part of being a surgeon and I’m now senior enough to have seen a few of my Trainees all the way through from intern to consultant.

But I’m only carrying on a tradition that I was the beneficiary of from my most junior years. I was given the learning opportunities as a junior doctor by a number of senior surgical colleagues (registrars and consultants) and I realised quite early that passing on the privilege to the next generation is all of our responsibility. What is your proudest moment as a surgical educator? While it’s always lovely to see the smiling faces of Trainees as they receive their scarf or tie at the Fellowship exam, and I’m always proud when a Trainee achieves other great milestones in life, such as becoming a parent. But what I am probably most proud of is seeing them become the next generation of teachers. Any advice for new surgical educators just getting started? Don’t forget what it was like to be a junior doctor or surgical Trainee. What do you wish had been done for you? What did you find really important and helpful? Keep this in mind.

Remember our Trainees have lives outside of surgery. Being organised will give your Trainees plenty of time to prepare, whether it’s for tutorials, rotations or projects. You also need to be reliable. It can be very easy to say ‘yes’ far too often. If you have been asked to give a tutorial, ensure you prioritise it accordingly. I avoid teaching when on call – you can’t be in two places at once. This is harder for those in a rural setting who are, no doubt, on call more frequently, but it is much better to schedule teaching when you are available.

Finally, you never stop learning new teaching skills. Watch those who you regard as good teachers. Use their techniques. (You can even quote them!)

Educator of Merit – SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year (Australian Capital Territory): Dr Bryan Ashman. Fellow since 1989. How do you feel receiving the ASE Educator of Merit award? I was very proud to be awarded the ASE Educator of Merit for the ACT. I have been involved in teaching surgery for over 30 years to medical students, residents, registrars, Fellows and colleagues. What inspired you to pursue surgical education? I have always been interested in teaching surgery, and took the opportunity in 2013 to start the Master of Surgical Education degree. I completed this in 2016 by minor thesis, looking at what motivates senior surgeons to learn new surgical techniques. I have been involved in teaching spine surgery with the Spine Division of the AO Foundation since 2005.

What is your proudest moment as a surgical educator? Being elected as the chair of the AO Spine International Education Commission in 2017, overseeing spine surgery education in more than 70 countries and over 200 educational events annually.

Educator of Merit – SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year (New Zealand): Mr John Lengyel. Fellow since 2017. 

What inspired you to pursue surgical education? With the growth of the internet and readily accessible information, I was interested to know how the next generation would use it to their advantage. There has been a move by many institutions to provide courses and up-to-date online content, assuming that simply transmitting information from reputable sources results in learning. Change in behaviour that comes from learning occurs when there is a drive to find an answer to a problem, or a hurdle, in the form of an examination. There are many barriers to learning, which are enhanced when information is only available with payment, or when content has a political agenda or a strong viewpoint. I have nothing to lose and no axes to grind. Unfortunately, education today is prescribed and driven by political correctness. I don’t consider myself mainstream, and I encourage my Trainees to think rather than be taught. What do you hope to see in the future of education? I would like to see the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) move away from politics and compulsory educational campaigns. Surgeons have the ability to change the course of pathological processes that have defined end points. RACS should promote evidence-based surgical practice because, unfortunately, much decision-making is still cloaked in dogma. What advice do you have for health professionals who are passionate about surgical education? I would encourage them to think about the best learning experiences they have had, those that changed the way they practise, and find methods to replicate that experience for their juniors. Lead by example, but be humbled by the fact there are many junior surgeons who can still teach us – if we are willing to accept change.

The Educator of Merit awards consist of the SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year Awards, which recognise the exceptional contributions by a surgical supervisor/clinical assessor towards supporting Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs), and the Facilitator/Instructor of the Year Award, which recognises the exceptional contribution by a course facilitator or an instructor teaching on Professional Development or Skills Education courses. Nominations will be open from 1 February to 31 March 2021. Submit your nomination by including your name and contact details, the name and contact details of a seconder, and supporting comments on the nominee. Please send nominations to ase@surgeons.org.