African surgical research mentorship

Lack of access to safe surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa is a major health problem. Much is being done to address this challenge including the rapid expansion of surgical and perioperative training in many areas. In tandem, it is important that trainees are supported to become the next generation of surgical researchers, to lead the surgical research agenda on the continent.

However, as the ratio of trainees to trainers is often high, it can sometimes be difficult for trainees to obtain sufficient research support.

RCSI, along with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Royal College of Surgeons of England, are running a pilot programme to pair surgical trainees in low-resource settings who are requesting mentorship support with research active Fellows, staff and researchers in the UK and Ireland Royal Colleges. Mentorship will be undertaken on a voluntary basis.

For this pilot programme, potential trainees are postgraduate surgical trainees enrolled in the Masters of Medicine (Surgery) programme in Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, who are expected to produce a thesis as part of their training programme. We expect to add further African training programmes shortly.

What does mentorship consist of?

Mentorship will take place entirely virtually, through online meetings, email and other forms of communication. At a minimum, one monthly online meeting will take place between each mentor and mentee. The mentorship relationship will continue for a minimum of four months and a maximum of one year.

It is important to note that this research is being conducted by trainees as an assessed part of their postgraduate training programme. We would not, therefore expect mentors to take an active part in writing, but merely in guiding the trainee.

Who can become a mentor?

We do not currently have specific criteria to become a mentor; prospective mentors should consider that they have appropriate research experience to be in a position to support trainees in their research.

We expect that most mentors will be Fellows of the UK and Ireland Royal Surgical College, but they may equally be non-clinical researchers, or research-active staff members.

How can I become a mentor?

In order to match potential mentees and mentors in a timely manner, we maintain a live online form which is regularly updated with the details of trainees seeking the support of a mentor. Mentors need not necessarily practice the same surgical specialty as the trainee’s research topic.

If you see a trainee research project which may be of interest to you, and for which you believe your skills and experience may be relevant, please select that project, complete the required information and submit the form.