Autumn Term Outline 2025-2026

Hello everyone,

I hope that everyone is settling into a new term here at Aberdeen! A warm welcome back to our returning members - and to our new students, we are so excited to have you join us. Whether you’re finding your feet in a new city or returning to familiar halls, we hope you feel supported and welcome within the Ogston Surgical Society.

We’re restarting the Ogston blog this year as part of our commitment to making the society more accessible, especially for those who may not be active on social media.  I hope that this space will keep you informed and engaged with what is going on within the society, and I hope you will see what an exciting term we have lined up ahead. 

The Ogston Surgical Society at the University of Aberdeen is dedicated to promoting excellence in surgical education and practice. Our mission is to inspire the next generation of surgeons through networking, hands-on workshops, academic events and mentorship opportunities. We also run several exciting events throughout the academic year, which you can get involved in, and open doors for students pursuing a career in surgery. 

The first event we will be running is the Fresher’s Fayre. This will be happening on the 18th of September at the Suttie Centre, Aberdeen. The presidents of the society - Alicja Lubinska, and Eleftheria Karouzaki, are looking forward to meeting everyone, and I am too. Please come along, have a chat, ask questions and find out more about the society if it’s something you are interested in. If you are interested, but can’t make it, feel free to send us an email- our fantastic secretary, Minahil Ahmed, will be more than happy to answer at ogstonmedia@gmail.com. Alternatively, pop a message on our Instagram, where our excellent Publicity and Social Media Convenor, Heather Smith, can answer any questions you may have. 

To kick off the Autumn term, we will be running an “Introduction to Surgical Skills” which is a taster of what the Ogston Surgical Society can offer. This will be held in October, and will showcase various workshops that students can get involved in. This is a taster event, so open to everyone, so feel free to come along if you aren’t sure about becoming a member! Workshops will be run by various members of our committee including our excellent suturing convenors - Alexander Coutts and Amelia Faladay, and our dedicated Events Co-Ordinator- Aurora Sonkin,  no experience needed, just bring yourself! 

Ogston normally holds the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh “ Future Surgeons Key Skills Event” in Aberdeen in the Autumn Term, but due to scheduling demands, this may be hosted in the Spring Term. This event, which aims to bridge the gap in surgical skills provision and is targeted towards medical students and junior doctors. The event sells out fast, and in previous years has sold out in as little as four minutes! It is operated on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested, please keep your eyes peeled.- we will send out details as soon as we have it.

Our hands on suturing series will be returning, with around 6-8 events this term covering beginners, intermediate and advanced suturing. Sessions are led by Alexander and Amelia, and these sessions run for around two hours on either Tuesday or Wednesday nights, depending on availability. They are open to Ogston members only. Sign up fast, as they tend to be fully booked. 

Beginners: Hand-tying, simple interrupted suture

Intermediate: Vertical & horizontal mattress, simple locking, subcuticular, Aberdeen knot

Advanced: Keep your eyes peeled!

If you have never sutured before, or need a refresher, the beginner’s suturing events are a great place to start. For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch! If you have any questions about membership, our fantastic treasurer - Lyra Joyohoy- will be more than happy to answer. 

This year, we are excited to launch our Teaching Series- now under the leadership of our newly appointed teaching lead- Saad Tariq. This term’s plan includes online webinars led by committee members who have successfully passed their written finals. Sessions will follow the junior curriculum, with topics including:

• Gastroenterology

• ENT

• Neurology

• Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Each session will also highlight the surgical relevance of the topics, helping integrate theory with practice. We hope to return taught anatomy sessions as well. Keep your eyes peeled for details, which will be on here and Instagram!

This autumn is shaping up to be a vibrant and exciting term, and we can’t wait to welcome you to our events. Whether you are planning to pursue a career in surgery, or simply want to develop new skills and meet like minded peers, we encourage you to get involved. 

If you have any questions or ideas, we would love to hear from you!

Best wishes, 

Katherine 

Ogston’s Vice President 2025/2026