The University of Liverpool Student Surgical Research Society was founded in January 2021 by a group of surgical trainees and student doctors to collaborate on surgically-themed research projects. Now grown to 33 members across all year groups, it remains a small and exclusive society that provides one-to-one supervision and support on research projects.
Society President Student Doctor Steven Toh shares, “Our monthly society meetings are a key part of what we do and include teaching on research methodology and statistical skills, journal club presentations, and oral presentations by society members."
This allows students who are passionate about research to deepen their learning and engage in high-quality research projects that push them out of their comfort zone.
"These meetings also allow us to keep each other accountable and make consistent progress on our research projects, which is a common pitfall due to the workload and competing priorities of being a student doctor.”
Our first Journal Club of the year kick-started with a great turn out! Thank you everyone who could join in- follow us for updates on our next meeting! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/zit3xoLo1W
— UoL Student Surgical Research Society (@UoLSurgResearch) October 26, 2021
Society member and Year Four Student Doctor Kartik Goyal says, “UoL Surgical Research Society has given me the necessary tools to build and improve upon my research skills. I would recommend anyone looking to join research to come to one of our monthly meetings”
Society members Chyu Lai Yan Naing and Kartik Goyal
Steven continues, “Within a short span of time, our society members have made tremendous progress and secured remarkable personal achievements."
Collectively, we have represented University of Liverpool School of Medicine in delivering our research findings in six poster presentations and eight oral presentations at national and international conferences.
We have published three abstracts in the British Journal of Surgery and conducted a full research cycle, from inception to publication, on a research project which was published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology."
Another huge congratulations goes to one of our members @sishthemedic for winning a prize at this conference!
— UoL Student Surgical Research Society (@UoLSurgResearch) April 18, 2021
We’re all super proud 🥳✨ https://t.co/OaFhqC8qXK
"Society members have also won multiple prizes at prestigious conferences, such as second place at the RCSEd undergraduate research symposium, second place at the National Undergraduate Anaesthetics Conference, and the Supporting Access to Research Prize at the Virtual Academic Surgery Conference.
One even secured a Summer Studentship worth £600 from the Academy of Medical Science programme INSPIRE, which is designed to engage and support medical undergraduates in research.”
Congratulations to the winners of the NSTS Supporting Access to Research Prize: Nidhi Sharma & @chyulaiyannaing!
— National Surgical Teaching Society (@nsts_ed) April 6, 2021
This prize will subsidise the cost of a national or international presentation opportunity
We hope this scheme provides a small step into widening access to research pic.twitter.com/XlCABvRKwf
Chyu Lai Yan Naing is a member of the society and prize winner of the Virtual Academic Surgery Conference (VASC) 2021, “I am really glad I am part of a society where I learn a lot and am given opportunities to get involved with research.”
Steven is proud of the society’s inaugural Surgical Research Prize Evening which welcomed more than 70 students and doctors, including international delegates from countries such as Czech Republic, India, Malaysia and Morocco.
“We received excellent feedback from attendees who benefited from talks such as “How to Get Involved in Research” and oral presenters who passionately shared their research findings. A £50 voucher and practice suturing kit worth £40 was awarded to the prize winner.”
Society members Sharvaree Sanjaykumar Tambe and Jeremy Easow
Year One Student Doctor Sharvaree Sanjaykumar Tambe recently joined the society, “From holding frequent Zoom meetings and collaborating with other medical societies to presenting poster and oral presentations, the UoL Surgical Research Society is helping me understand how to get involved in surgical research and I look forward to the various research opportunities that the society will provide in the future.”
Steven invites other student doctors to get involved. “By joining the society, students gain access to research and audit opportunities that are closely supervised by surgical trainees with a wealth of research experience. They can take advantage of the research expertise of our approachable systematic review and audit leads by brainstorming ideas and seeking advice on any obstacles they may come across in their research projects."
Most importantly, the society is a platform where students can network with like-minded aspiring surgeons with a strong interest in research, and participate in extracurricular activities that will enhance their surgical portfolio.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of the society right from the beginning and it’s been incredible to see it grow. The best part is the direct guidance of our surgical registrars and the incredible team of students working with them to get students involved in research. If you are new to research, this is the best place to make a start.” Jeremy Easow, Former President of UoL Student Surgical Research Society and RCSEd Undergraduate Research Symposium Prize Winner
Discover more
- Follow UoL Student Surgical Research Society on Twitter (link), Facebook (link) and Instagram (link).
- Liverpool Student Doctors can learn more about how INSPIRE can support their research interests on the student intranet (link).