MSc in Surgical Science and Practice

Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

MSc in Surgical Science and Practice, Class of 2024

Egehan Salepci MD, MSc, MRCS (ENT) is a medically trained otorhinolaryngologist whose professional journey spans clinical practice, innovation, and global surgery. Having completed his medical degree and specialist surgical training in Turkey, Egehan undertook the MSc in Surgical Science and Practice at the University of Oxford alongside the final stages of his residency and the early years of his consultant practice.

Following completion of his surgical training, Egehan fulfilled Turkey’s compulsory service requirement for newly qualified specialists, working for two years in an underserved region of the country. It was within this context that he completed his MSc dissertation, deliberately selecting a project that responded directly to the realities of his working environment. Through the programme’s Healthcare Innovation and Technology (HIT) module, and under supervision from plastic surgery faculty, Egehan developed a low-cost method for producing 3D-printed anatomical models in resource-constrained settings.

Reflecting on the programme, Egehan describes its most rewarding aspect as its ability to illuminate what he calls ‘the often forgotten or overlooked parts of surgery.’ Rather than focusing solely on technical proficiency, the MSc broadened his perspective on how surgical practice is shaped by systems, innovation, and context.

‘I started to look at my daily practice from viewpoints I would not have considered before,’ he explains. ‘It fundamentally expanded my horizon.’

This broadened perspective has translated into tangible professional opportunities. Since graduating, Egehan now serves as a board member and medical advisor to a global surgery non-profit organisation which focuses on improving access to surgical care in underserved regions worldwide. In parallel, he advises a company working to expand access to cancer care at scale.

‘Before the MSc, I would never have imagined myself contributing at board level. The programme showed me that my clinical expertise, combined with what I learned through the MSc, could be applied in ways I hadn’t previously thought possible.’

Egehan also credits the programme with strengthening his capacity for innovative thinking. Where once he may have approached surgical challenges with a limited set of solutions, he now feels equipped to explore alternative approaches, technologies, and system-level interventions. This shift has been particularly influential in shaping his academic and professional ambitions within the field of global surgery.

‘What once felt like an abstract aspiration now feels achievable. I can map a clear pathway from where I am to where I want to be.’

When asked why the MSc in Surgical Science and Practice stood out among other postgraduate options, Egehan emphasises its relevance, structure, and intellectual environment. Unlike more traditional, laboratory-focused degrees, the programme aligned closely with his career aspirations and offered the opportunity to remain clinically active. Its part-time, in-person format, combined with the experience of studying in Oxford, was decisive.

‘Being a student in Oxford was, in itself, a horizon-broadening experience. It took me out of the very linear path that surgeons often follow.’

Egehan believes the programme is particularly well suited to surgeons and physicians who sense that there is ‘something more’ beyond conventional clinical roles, including those who feel there are solutions within reach but lack the tools or frameworks to pursue them. ‘If you feel something is missing, this programme gives you the skills and perspectives to find it,’ he says.

Now working at the intersection of surgery, innovation, and global health, Egehan views the MSc as a pivotal steppingstone. Beyond the academic grounding it provided, the programme and the Oxford name have opened doors to international collaboration and dialogue.

‘It’s an icebreaker. People are curious about what you experienced, and those conversations often lead to new opportunities.’

Egehan’s journey exemplifies how the MSc in Surgical Science and Practice supports clinicians in expanding their impact locally and globally while remaining grounded in the realities of surgical practice.