The RSTN is open to all levels of undergraduate and trainee.
As trainees, we frequently work alone on projects in our respective units. They usually involve small patient numbers and end up having a limited clinical impact. Short rotations and moving placements also interfere with completing projects.
The RSTN aims to change this by supporting networking and collaboration between trainees and individual plastic surgery units. This should contribute to higher quality output.
Trainee research collaboratives in general surgery and other specialties have been extremely successful. Combining prospective data from multiple centres has resulted in excellent studies published in high impact journals. As an example, the West Midlands Research Collaborative published their first study in the BMJ. Every contributor received recognition in the form of authorship.
So, how can you get involved? The RSTN is still a relatively young collaborative compared to our medical and general surgical colleagues. As a result, we have a number of projects at different stages ranging from novel ideas in the proposal phase to those that have started to recruit.
The RSTN is keen to encourage all levels of trainee involvement at every stage of setting up a trial, from inception all the way through to data collection and analysis. We would encourage you attend the forthcoming RSTN Trials Day 2015 and sign up to the mailing list.
A list of current projects can be viewed under ‘Projects’ on the main menu. If you have any further queries about RSTN or ways that you can get involved, please do get in touch via the contact form here.
BAPRAS Undergraduate Day
Richard Kwasnicki is presenting at the 13th Undergraduate Day in Birmingham. We are looking for a project that will be lead by undergraduates and junior surgical trainees. If you have an idea please submit via the website here. It will also be entered for the RSTN Trials Day 2015.
Undergraduate and Foundation Training reps
Richard Kwasnicki (Undergraduate rep)
Richard’s role as the undergraduate representative for RSTN is to encourage and enable medical student contribution to multi-centre trials. He is currently based at Imperial College London as a penultimate-year Medical Student and Research Associate (Dept. of Surgery).
Richard completed his Doctoral thesis entitled ‘Smart Monitoring Solutions After Reconstructive Surgery’ in 2014 at the Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College London, as part of the MBPhD programme. During this time, Richard worked alongside a team of engineers to develop technological solutions to clinical challenges, including an ear-worn motion sensor to assess post-operative mobility after lower limb reconstruction, and a bespoke tissue oxygenation sensor for wireless free-flap monitoring.
Richard’s research interests are based around surgical technology and wearable sensors, including Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), personalised rehabilitation programmes, and clinical service assessment and optimisation.
Anna Allan (Foundation Trainee Representative)
Anna is currently completing her core surgical training in London. Her interests are broad-ranging in the field of reconstructive surgery, but are focussed on improving the evidence-base upon which surgical practice is founded. Through her involvement with RSTN, Anna has seen the processes involved with setting up new trials, and is keen to encourage students and trainees get involved with projects nationwide.
Katie Young (Foundation Trainee / West Midlands Rep)
Katie is the RSTN lead for West Midlands deanery and is currently working as a hand trauma research fellow at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, pre her core surgical training.
Katie’s interests are in limb trauma, specifically clinical trials in trauma and reconstructive surgery – hence her taking a year out of her training to help set up trials at the Birmingham hand unit. Being a part of the RSTN has helped her develop her contacts in this field but also attending the discussions at meetings has help develop her understanding and knowledge of trial management.
Matthew Wordsworth (Military Representative)
Mr Matt Wordsworth is the military lead for the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network. He is finishing his core surgical training in London and is an Officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Interests lie in hand and lower limb reconstruction. Matt is the point of contact for any military projects and is happy to assist with any trauma reconstruction projects or general queries for trainees and students in London.