Member eZine - August 2024 ◆
President's Message
We are pleased to announce the launch of the new-look GSA website along with your self-service profile. Log in information has been communicated via email however if you require any assistance, please get in touch with the team via [email protected] – they are here to assist in any way they can
As mentioned, the website now includes ‘Your Profile’ where you can update your personal details including address and email, reset your password, and pay membership subscriptions (if applicable). Having accurate and up-to-date practice location and specialty details for our membership will form a vital part of our ongoing workforce planning project, so we encourage all our users to take a few minutes to update their details.
We have a library of over 500 on-demand webcasts already, with more to come, including a direct link to the exciting new Hernia Hub podcast series. These can be accessed via ‘Educational Resources’. We hope the new website will be easy for you to navigate and provide better access to our services.
Conference season is almost upon us, and we have a number of upcoming events that will be of particular interest to our members and trainees including the PSA 2024 ASC which is just a few weeks’ away, the 2024 GSA ASM focusing on Trauma & Emergency Surgery, and the 2024 Sydney Colorectal Meeting.
As always, if you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to get in touch with me via [email protected]. I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming 2024 GSA ASM in Adelaide.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Sally Butchers FRACS
President
ANZ HERNIA 2024
VALE Dr Alastair Brown FRACS
The Board was saddened to learn recently of the passing last year of inaugural GSA President, Mr Alastair Brown, aged 86. Alastair was instrumental in the establishment of GSA and chaired the Board from the inception of the interim Executive in December 1998, until our Annual General Meeting in May 2001.
In February 2001, Alastair wrote of his ‘dream’ for GSA, which noted that “The range of activities is limitless, but would include such things as organising Committee meetings… assist(ing) with the organisation of Training programmes and CPD activities and with the organisation of specialty Group or Section meetings, as well as other, broader based, general interest meetings.” In his last email to our Board in April 2002 Alastair wrote “Please keep me informed about activities at GSA. I feel a sense of pride in how much it has grown”.
The Board extends our sympathy to Alastair’s wife Kate, his family, and his many friends and colleagues in New South Wales, in particular.
PFET Program in Rural Surgery
Despite the best intentions and efforts of the Rural Training Committee over the past three years, the decision has been made to withdraw the PFET Program in Rural Surgery from our ongoing post-Fellowship program offerings.
The Committee has been unsuccessful in developing a sustainable program model that meets the sub-specialty training preferences of applicants, and that also aligns with the objectives outlined in the RACS Rural Health Equity Strategic Action Plan.
Members of the Committee and the GSA Board of Directors remain committed to supporting Rural Surgery. We will continue to work closely with the RACS Rural Coach to identify and facilitate appropriate post-Fellowship training opportunities, for graduating Trainees who are interested in a surgical career in rural and regional settings.
ANZ Hernia 2024
Australia’s and New Zealand’s Surgical Community will come together in Brisbane in August 2024 for the ANZ Hernia Conference, “Back to Basics”.
The conference is open to all General Surgeons, Trainees, Surgical Assistants, students and interested parties, and will be held at the W Hotel Brisbane from 29th to 31st August 2024. For more information and to register, please visit the ANZ Hernia 2024 website.
2024 Membership Subscriptions
Most subscriptions for Ordinary and Junior Doctor members can now be paid via ‘Your Profile’ the Membership tab. If your membership status shows as ‘Renewal Pending’, please click the ‘Become a Member’ button to update your details, and renew your 2024 subscription.
If you have a modified or discounted 2024 membership subscription, please contact the Finance team at [email protected] for a payment link to be emailed to you directly.
PSA ASC & Rural Coach Grants
A reminder that we are offering a number of Rural Surgery Grants to eligible doctors, interested in a career in Rural Surgery. The grants are open to trainees, SIMGs, and junior doctors who are active GSA members, and are to be used towards attendance Provincial Surgeons of Australia 2024 ASC – When City Meets the Bush, this year taking place in the home of sunflowers -Toowoomba from 04 – 06 September.
BreastSurgANZ Workshops
The BreastSurgANZ Level 2 Oncoplastic Breast Surgery (OPBS) Workshop 2024 will be held at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and The Kerry Packer Education Centre from 21-22 October 2024. For further details and to register, please visit the website.
The BreastSurgANZ Perforator Flaps Workshop 2024 will be held at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse on 23 October 2024. To find out more visit breastsurganz.org
Invitation to Join INOAA
A reminder that Members and Trainees are invited to participate in the International Open Abdomen Audit (iNOAA).
The iNOAA study has been approved by the GSA Research & Scholarships Committee. Queries about the project should be directed to [email protected].
Contact Us
+61 3 8664 4710 | [email protected]