Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Professor Kokila Lakhoo reports on her research group's attendance at the 2024 College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) Conference in Zimbabwe. As well as joining a team of examiners, members from the Oxford University Global Surgery Group ran the BAPS HG neonatal skills course, a research seminar, and a point of care ultrasound course during their trip from 29 November to 8 December 2024.

HG Neonatal Skills Course faculty, including Kokila Lakhoo, Gerlin Naidoo and Dennis Mazingi

HG Neonatal Skills Course 

Faculty: Kokila Lakhoo, Merrill McHoney, Gerlin Naidoo, Noel Peter, Dennis Mazingi

Participants practising skills in neonatal surgery.The entire faculty with local help worked the day before to prepared sheep tissue obtained by the skills laboratory technician to create low fidelity simulation models for above course. This is a skilled based course in neonatal surgery with addition of models for adult surgeons doing children’s surgery (gastrostomy, cannulation in children and chest drain insertion. Due to oversubscription we ran the course on 30 November and repeated it on 1 December. The participants ranged from core trainees to adult general and paediatric surgical trainees. The models covered bowel anastomosis, gastrostomies, duodenal atresia, and repair of tracheo -oesophageal fistula and oesophageal atresia, cannulation, chest drain insertion and pyeloplasty. We did a pre and post-test which showed an average of 83% improvement and the feedback was again very positive with a request for video clips of each station. We also ran a training the trainer session parallel to the course to create a local faculty. The participants have requested a gastroschisis station for next year.

Research Seminar 

Faculty: Dennis Mazingi, Soham Bandyopadhyay, Noel PeterGerlin Naidoo

The research seminar was conducted until 3pm with a basic and advance section. We had 40 participants with a mixed group of trainees needing basic research skills and an advance group of early years consultants requiring an advanced programme. The ask was basic and advanced research skills. The seminar mainly concentrated on systematic reviews and grant applications. Six breakout rooms were created to design a project as learning experience. The feedback was very positive. The participants were encouraged to join the online research programme run by the Oxford University Global Surgery Group (OUGSG) research team. The take home message was that research is not confined to university staff but should be brought into the clinical arena as clinical researchers are important and relevant to improve health care. There is now ongoing support for research via OUGSG. 

POCUS Course 

Faculty: Dennis Mazingi, Soham BandyopadhyayGerlin Naidoo

A demonstration of the point of care ultrasound (POCUS) equipmentThis point of care ultrasound (POCUS) course took place from 3pm onwards. The equipment was loaned from the department of radiology in Zimbabwe and the actors for the demonstration were three medical students.

The course was well received as it was purely aimed at paediatric surgical and children’s emergency staff to decrease the need for waiting for imaging in an acute setting. The course ran until 8pm and the feedback was to extend the time and open to all paediatric staff.

 

Fellowship Exams 

Oxford Faculty: Ashok Handa, Noel Peter, Merrill McHoneyKokila Lakhoo

Professor Handa was an online examiner for the adult general surgery membership exams. While, Mr Peter was the examiner for the orthopaedic examinations, Professor Lakhoo was the external examiner for the Paediatric Surgery Fellowship Exams and Dr McHoney was an examiner for the fellowship exams in Paediatric Surgery.

Paediatric Surgery Fellowship Exams

There were 22 candidates and 24 examiners, seven observers, one internal and one external examiner. All the examiners were from Africa bar six who came from USA, UK, Europe, and Canada to have international representation for standard setting for the COSECSA examinations. We had 12 stations with two scenarios each covering 24 topics. The clinical and viva stations were appropriate for fellowship exit exams. Examiners were paired as new and experienced per station. There were three floating examiners who covered conflict when the examiner’s trainee was being examined. There were 20 passes and three failures. The quality of the examination is of high standing and continues to improve, keeping up with international standards. Next year, the examinations will have an OSCE style with actors representing patients.

Paediatric Surgery Examination Board and helpers

This trip was jointly funded by Oxford Locum Fund and KIDSOR.

Blog posts

My half marathon challenge to help support those living with dementia

Zoe Uttley, Executive Officer to the Director of SITU NDS and SITU NDS Coordinator, is preparing to run the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday 13 October 2024 in support of Alzheimer's Society. Read her story.

Running for CRIS Cancer Foundation

NDS researcher Dimitrios Doultsinos is preparing to run the Athens Authentic Marathon and the Royal Parks Half in support of CRIS Cancer Foundation.

Developing myself through an HR apprenticeship

HR Officer Claire Wheeler, who is completing an HR apprenticeship at NDS, has been featured in the Abingdon & Witney College Apprenticeship Newsletter. Read her interview below.

Joanna Hester shares her 'Collaboration in Action' story

Joanna Hester is an Associate Professor at NDS. In her collaboration story, Joanna shares her motivations and experiences in collaborating with various industry partners, starting from her post-doctoral days participating in EU-funded projects to her current role as a Principal Investigator.

The ethical impacts of international medical electives on local students and patient care

Magdalena Chmura, a former Student Rep of Oxford University Global Surgery Group and current Foundation Year doctor shares a paper recently published with Dr Shobhana Nagraj.