Activities

The Surgical Research Society of Australasia (SRS) was established in 1961 with Professor Richard P Jepson as its inaugural President. The Surgical Research Society has a long history of contribution to the advancement of surgical research and support for academic surgery. As one of its most valuable achievements over the years, the SRS has provided an excellent forum for the presentation of original research by Fellows, Trainees and medical students to present their research.

The Surgical Research Society of Australasia Conference is held in conjunction with the Section of Academic Surgery Meeting.  In 2025 the Academic Surgery Committee decided to combine the Developing a Career and Skills in Academic Surgery (DCAS) Conference with the November Annual Academic Surgery Conference (NAASC) to create one premier event for the Section of Academic Surgery. 

The RACS Annual Research Conference incorporating DCAS will be held in November in a new three-day format. DCAS will remain a stand-alone event on day one and attendees will be able to attend either or both events.

Prestigious and highly sought-after prizes are awarded at the conference:

• The Young Investigator Award which provides financial support for the winner to attend and present their work at the Association for Academic Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting in the United States.
• The Developing a Career and Skills in Academic Surgery (DCAS) Award which provides financial support for the winner to attend the DCAS Course.
• ANZ Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Award for the best presentation by a Younger Fellow (< 5 years since awarded Fellowship).
• Travel awards.

Become a member of the Section of Academic Surgery.

This course was established to help delegates understand the early stages of establishing a career in academic surgery and to broaden their network of experienced colleagues. The target audience of this course includes medical students, surgical Trainees, research Fellows, early career academics, Younger Fellows, and any surgeons with an interest in academic surgery.

Course goals:

• To promote the positive, inclusive aspects of academic surgery
• To inspire and recruit potential academic surgeons
• To provide an insight into academic practice

The DCAS Course will be held annually on the first day of the RACS Annual Research Conference which will be held at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne on Thursday 13 November 2025.

Provisional Program coming soon

Email: [email protected] 

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, through the Section of Academic Surgery has a key focus on creating and sustaining the next generation of the clinical academic workforce. The Clinician Researcher Committee (CRC) was formed to take this work forward.

The aims of the CRC are:

• To develop a strategic framework that will identify the requirements (including gaps, overlaps and obstacles) for embedding clinical academic career pathways within the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Medical system, and
• To investigate means by which active support can be provided to host institutions wishing to build new clinical academic training pathways/positions throughout the continuum of training in collaboration with the relevant training, regulatory and professional bodies (including medical schools and postgraduate medical colleges).

The Clinical Trials Network Australia and New Zealand (CTANZ) is a collaborative that gives surgical Trainees, Junior Doctors and medical students the opportunity to lead and participate in clinical studies that enhance patient care.

Visit our dedicated webpage to learn more about CTANZ, and how to join us: surgeons.org/CTANZ

CTANZ Executive team 

Professor David Watson - Interim CTANZ Clinical Director

Dr Lorwai Tan - Executive
Ms Kristy Atherton - CTANZ Coordinator

For more information, email: [email protected]