Page 135 - HKU Surgery 110 Anniversary E-Book

Chapter V. Embracing the Modern Age

Tweaks to Training

A Typical Day

Surgical training is rigorous, whatever
era it is conducted in. In the past, interns
were thrown into the deep end and mainly Surgical trainees today work in less starting work at 5.30 in the morning. I’m
learned by watching and doing. In more difficult physical conditions than their on call that day so I won’t be able to sleep
recent times, the Department and the seniors did, but they still put in the hours and then I work through Thursday the
College of Surgeons of Hong Kong have and effort to become skilled at their craft. whole day and leave at 8pm that night,
implemented more structured training to Several recent trainees recounted their without a single minute of sleep. That was
ensure all surgeons in Hong Kong achieve experiences. my junior years. But it meant that when I
consistent standards.
became a higher surgical trainee, life was
Professor Matrix Fung, now Chief of easier compared to trainees from other
All the Department’s surgical trainees
are required to take mandatory courses, Division of Endocrine Surgery, did his hospitals. Some of them transferred out.”
including ATLS for trauma, a critical care surgical training in the 2010s. “My typical
course and research training, and to rotate day as a trainee was ultra busy. There was Things are a little more reasonable now
to other centres besides Queen Mary not much sleep because after work, you’re with the post-call half day, according to

Hospital. Trainees do not perform most Surgical skills training at Surgical Skills Centre. doing research, writing papers, preparing surgical trainee Dr Joshua Hui. “I think
procedures until they reach higher levels for presentations. I worked maybe 85-90 going into surgery, you are going to spend
of training, something that is probably “mandatory” means junior staff cannot be hours in the hospital, excluding time I more time in the hospital than some
better for patients. Basic surgical training pressured to forgo their break). An effort worked on these other things at home other specialities because it’s a physical
lasts a minimum of two years, at the end of has also been made to boost camaraderie on my computer. It’s quite tough in the craft and you need to do a lot of hours
which is a three-part membership exam – and bonding among junior staff through trainee days but I’d say it’s good training. to train. Usually, my hours are 7am to
two written and an Observed Structured social and training events, echoing back It equipped me with an academic mindset 5.30 or 6pm. Twice a day we do the ward
Clinical Examination of their skills – to the days when the Department was that all surgeons in our unit have. This round. During the day, I’m sometimes
followed by another four or five years very small and everyone knew each other, is one of the core values of Queen Mary in the clinic or in the operating theatre
of specialty training. The Department but without the expectation that their Hospital that is unique.” assisting the consultant surgeon. I’m on
supports trainees by conducting seminars whole lives belong in the Department.
and mock examinations. call four or five times a month. I knew it
“It should not be a question of whether Dr Alvin Siu, who also did his training in was going to be busy. I expected it. And
Even with the HA’s stated 65-hour limit, one should sacrifice life for work, or vice the 2010s, also remembers very long hours, I know we are less busy now than, say,
the hours can extend upwards. Junior versa. It should be about ensuring that which he said was good preparation. “In the generation before was. My seniors at
doctors are on call four or five times a trainees acquire the appropriate level my trainee years it was very demanding. consultants’ level say they were already
month and while this is less than their of skills and knowledge by adopting a The intake was not very high – there were working on appendices and doing some
predecessors (some were on call twice a competency-based approach to surgical fewer than 10 of us so we had eight or 10 operations themselves, which I won’t start
week or more), until very recently they training. These days, the ’time-based’ on-call days a month. Now, the intake is to learn until I’m at a higher training
could end up working 36-hour shifts or ‘case-volume-based’ approaches of almost double. But it was just like army level, so the learning process is a little
without a break when their regular duties old do not suffice.” training. I still remember when I was in slower than before.”
were added in. This was a major factor - Professor Gilberto Leung, the hepatobiliary team, on a Wednesday
in lower recruitment levels. In response, Clinical Professor and Past-President
the Department introduced a mandatory of the Hong Kong Academy
post-call half-day, which entitles staff to of Medicine (2020-24) -
a half-day off after being on call (and

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