SA, NT & WA Tri-State ASM 

Fellows, Trainees and special guests gathered at the iconic Adelaide Oval for the RACS SA, WA and NT Tri-state Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2025.

The meeting adopted the theme of Standing on the Shoulders of Giants to pay homage to the legacy of those who have shaped the surgical profession over many years through their innovation and their ingenuity.

The two-day event, held between Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 August, started the preceding evening with a welcome reception at the beautiful Jolleys Boathouse. Situated on the banks of the River Torrens, it offered attendees a chance to reconnect and ready themselves for a collaborative and inspiring program.

Day one started with a warm welcome from RACS SA Chair and Meeting Convener, Dr Bernard Carney. This was followed by RACS CEO, Stephanie Clota, who shared a College update, highlighting how RACS continues to support its Fellows and Trainees through advocacy, education and the strong foundation that is being established with RACS’ new strategy.

The program featured a diverse mix of clinical updates, research presentations and panel discussions. Day one included sessions on surgical innovation, rural health, and leadership, while day two focused on trauma care, surgical education and global health. The theme was woven throughout, with speakers reflecting on the legacy of surgical pioneers and the importance of mentorship and knowledge-sharing.

SA Preparation for Private Practice Workshop

On Friday 24 October the RACS SA State Office held a Preparation for Private Practice workshop, bringing together Younger Fellows and final year Trainees for a day of insights, learning and tips and tricks to starting in private practice.

The program consisted of 12 speaker sessions covering a range of different topics, such as challenging cases and diversifying the workforce, mental health in surgeons and legal pitfalls in commencing private practice. A highlight from the day was the interactive panel discission involving representative from Calvary Adelaide, St Andrews Hospital, Western Hospital and ACHA Group, offering perspectives and knowledge into private hospital practice.

We would like to acknowledge the sponsors of the event, Bartons Chartered Accountants’ Wealth Advisors, Avant, Return to Work SA, Magentus, MLCOA and MDA National.

Overall, the workshop was very successful and a fantastic opportunity for Younger Fellows and final year Trainees to gain practical knowledge and connect with experienced professionals.

SA Papers Day 2025

On 15 August 2025 the South Australian (SA) state office hosted a successful Papers Day, bringing together medical students, Trainees and Younger Fellows to present their research, and compete for the prestigious Justin Miller Medal and RP Jepson Medal.

These awards honour two of SA's most distinguished surgeons. The Justin Miller Medal recognises the best clinical paper and presentation while the RP Jepson Medal is awarded for the best research paper and presentation.

This year’s event featured 15 presentations, reflecting the depth and diversity of surgical research being undertaken across the state. The day was convened by Dr Bernard Carney, Chair of the SA State Committee, and provided a valuable platform for participants to share their work, engage in academic discussion, and receive expert feedback.

The judging panel included Associate Professor Nicola Dean, Professor Martin Bruening, and Associate Professor George Barreto, who brought a wealth of experience and insight to the evaluation process.

Congratulations to Dominique White, winner of the Justin Miller Medal, for her presentation titled ‘Preliminary Experience Using Artificial Intelligence and Multispectral Imaging for Burn Depth Assessment.’

Congratulations also to Jesse Ey, winner of the RP Jepson Medal, for his presentation ‘Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Remote Video-Based Coaching Intervention to Improve Surgeon Non-Technical Skills in Rural Hospitals.’

The SA Papers Day continues to be a cornerstone event for fostering surgical research and celebrating emerging talent in the field, and an excellent opportunity for budding surgeons to gain valuable CV points to assist them in applying for surgical training programs.

SA Surgeons Charity Ball 2025

The SA Surgeons Charity Ball returned for its fourth instalment on Saturday 15 February 2025, with the location being the newly renovated Playford Hotel, North Terrace Adelaide.

The event was attended by over 160 guests comprising of Fellows, Trainees, other medical professionals, staff, partners and a range of sponsors.

The event raised more than $36,000 for Interplast, an organisation that sends teams of volunteer plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals to provide life-changing surgery and medical training in 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region. Attended by the Proudman Family, Dr Tim Proudman was also acknowledged on the evening.

Thank you to the SA Younger Fellows Advisory Committee who helped organise the Ball, as well as the generous event sponsors, the RACS supporting staff and of course our excellent hosts at The Playford Hotel.

A great success and a testament to the generosity of the state’s surgical community.