What does it take to be a great educator in the surgical world? Worthy recipient of this year’s Academy of Surgical Educators Supervisor of the Year Award, Dr Phillip Jeans, shares his views on the critical role of educators, good to great, in shaping the careers of all aspiring surgeons.

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Taking up a volunteering assignment overseas can be fraught with challenges. But there are big rewards too, says general surgeon Meron Pitcher from Western Hospital in Melbourne’s Footscray. Meron has just returned from Papua New Guinea and offers us a bird’s eye view of the volunteering experience in that hot, harsh, beautiful country.

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Medical professionals are expected to report their colleague’s misconduct under the Health Practitioner Regulation Law. Failure to do so can carry serious implications. Michael Gorton AM from Russell Kennedy Lawyers discusses the obligations under the law and the steps surgeons should take if they discover a colleague is doing the wrong thing.

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One of the earliest casualties of climate change is global health — particularly the health of communities in the developing world.  That's according to Professor Alistair Woodward, Head of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Auckland, who was speaking at the recent Annual Scientific Meeting held at Te Papa in Wellington, New Zealand. He explains how social change can help combat the unprecedented and accelerated impact of global warming.

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Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) has become more widely available to patients in Queensland since its adoption in 2013. ENT surgeon, Dr Sam Dowthwaite spoke at the recent RACS Queensland State Annual Meeting on the benefits of TORS to both patients and surgeons, as well as the challenges, including the time and resources needed to train surgical staff with the technique.

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Modern medical treatments can do so much to prolong life. But at what point should surgeons hold back, despite a conviction that treatment will benefit the patient? Palliative medicine specialist Dr Will Cairns from Queensland Health in Townsville brings decades of experience to the issue. His message: look beyond your expertise to the wishes of patients. And that means conversations.

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Mr John Batten – The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons welcomed its 47th – and first Tasmanian – President in May this year. Mr John Batten is an orthopaedic surgeon from Launceston General Hospital, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania, and until recently he has maintained a private practice for more than 30 years. He discusses his role as President, his priorities for the College and the volunteer work he commits to in Vanuatu each year.

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A doctor-patient relationship can evolve into one which is very close and intimate as the patient becomes reliant on his or her doctor's information and treatment. But, what happens when a patient expects more than professional treatment and whose behaviour subsequently becomes unacceptable? Michael Gorton AM from Russell Kennedy Lawyers discusses what you can do if you find yourself in circumstances that may require ending the doctor-patient relationship.

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For the first time in Australia, specialists at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne have rewired amputees' nerves to enable them to control their prostheses through mind control. The Alfred's Director of Plastic Surgery, Mr Frank Bruscino-Raiola, discusses the innovative procedure known as Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) and the on-going rehabilitation system of osseointegration, which can provide patients a better quality of life.

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Dr Ronald Yuen and Dr Hock Ping – A vital component of any surgical team is its line of communication. The ubiquity of smart phones has led to increasing numbers of surgical teams using online tools such as WhatsApp for better communication. Dr Ronald Yuen and Dr Hock Cheah discuss a recent study conducted at the Gosford District Hospital, NSW, which analyses the efficiency and effectiveness of WhatsApp among surgical team members.

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