The Educator of Merit Award

Some of our winners share their experience of being educators

Every year the Academy of Surgical Educators (ASE) presents the Educator of Merit Award to recognise exceptional contributions by our surgical educators. Some of the 2021 winners share their experience of being educators. The Educator of Merit awards consist of the SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year Awards, which recognises the exceptional contributions by a SET supervisor/SIMG Supervisor towards supporting Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs). The second award—The Facilitator/ Instructor of the Year Award—recognises the exceptional contribution by a course facilitator or an instructor teaching a Professional Development or Skills Education course.

The 2022 nomination portal is open from 1 March to 15 April 2022. You can submit your nomination here: https://bit. ly/3qVbsiX. Professor Jeganath Krishnan is a RACS Fellow based in Adelaide, South Australia. He specialises in Orthopaedic Surgery. The ASE awarded Professor Krishnan with the SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year (SA) Award in 2021. 1. Why is surgical education important to you? Surgical education is very important to me because it is a privilege to be able to share knowledge and experience. It is also important to remember and appreciate that the reason we are in this position to teach is because of the time and effort that has been invested in us by our teachers.

2. Tell us a memorable moment in your journey as a surgical educator. Many of my memorable experiences relate to sharing in the success of the students with whom I have been involved. 3. What advice do you have for health professionals who are passionate about surgical education? Continue to be passionate and remember the value of the return of investment back to the community for long-term sustainability and improvements in healthcare and its delivery. Dr Christopher Roberts is a RACS Fellow based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. He specialises in Orthopaedic surgery. The ASE awarded Dr Roberts with the SET Supervisor/SIMG Supervisor of the Year (ACT) Award in 2021. 1.Please tell us something about yourself. I am an orthopaedic surgeon with a focus on upper limb conditions. I completed my undergraduate training at the University of Sydney and worked at Concord Hospital where I met my wife Kerri. I did my orthopaedic training in Sydney and completed my overseas Fellowships in Derby, England and in Hong Kong. I started my practice in Canberra in 1994. I have two sons—Jack and Sam—and a gorgeous granddaughter, Lucy. I have been teaching throughout my entire career. Ever since the ANU Medical School commenced, I have taught undergraduate students and was appointed Clinical Associate Professor in 2020. I have been teaching orthopaedic Trainees since 1994 and was a supervisor of training from 1996 to 1999. I established the first AOA Fellowship training position in Canberra, which has played a major role in training, recruitment and retention of high-quality orthopaedic surgeons in Canberra. Recently, I have established a yearly program of lectures for orthopaedic registrars. 2. What is your proudest moment as a surgical educator? My proudest moment was when the medical students I taught decided to take up training in orthopaedics. The compact environment of Canberra provides a unique chance to see doctors progress on their career paths. For example, I have seen second-year students who I taught graduating as doctors, then progressing to orthopaedic training, and finally graduating as orthopaedic surgeons. Another moment is when doctors tell me they finally understood something because of the way I taught them. 3. Any advice for new surgical educators just getting started? Surgery is busy and your life gets swept up with work, patients, staff and family.