SURGIA Newsletter: General Surgery Edition Volume II Issue 1 | Page 24

EVENT REPORT

MENTORING
MIXER
by Kim Vo, Director of Engagement

T

he 2016 SURGIA Mentoring Mixer was
held on the 5th April at the Bruce Lynton BMW
Showroom in Southport. The mixer served as
an opportunity to initiate a strong mentorship
between reputable surgeons and student
mentees, which is maintained and enriched
throughout the student’s medical career.
In the past, the SURGIA Mentoring Program has
yielded invaluable experience and learning for
both participants. These include discussions
regarding current surgical career pathways,
research opportunities, medical technological
advancements, inspirations, work and social
balances. The program is built on the belief
that mentorship fosters a supportive work
culture, ultimately influencing change, which is a
cornerstone of medicine.
The event itself provided over twenty medical
students an opportunity to network with surgeons
and develop a potential mentee-mentor
relationship. The three Keynote Speakers on the
night included Professor Errol Maguire, Professor
Marianne Vonau and Miss Hayman Lui. These
speakers gave a detailed and genuine insight in
what the past and present surgical field involves,
and the optimal approach to pursuing surgery in
the future. SURGIA sincerely appreciates the time
these Keynote Speakers have taken to address our
student mentees, as well as their ongoing support
and efforts to improve the SURGIA Mentoring
Program.
To date, the Mentoring Program includes
approximately thirty surgeon mentors, which
will continue to grow throughout the year. We
will continue to optimise the program through
participation of rural surgical mentors, greater
opportunity to meet new people and more
frequent events to aid the mentee-mentor
relationship. Once again we would like to sincerely
thank Gold Coast Private Hospital for sponsoring
the event.

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