The Irish Surgical Training Group looks forward to the new year with many trainee-centred events to look forward to. We will kick off the new year with our annual Careers Day on January 13^th 2024. This will give medical students, interns and SHOs a chance to learn more about a career in surgery. There will be talks by consultants from a range of subspecialties to discuss what training and a career in that specialty is really like. We will also be running a preparation for consultancy workshop aimed at trainees who are finishing HST. There will be talks by finance experts, recently appointed consultants, IHCA representative, interview preparation and much more. The Aspiring Surgeons Research Symposium will also be taking place on the day, providing an opportunity for students and trainees alike to present original research.

In November this year we launched ‘Suture Self’ – the podcast of the ISTG. Episodes to date have discussed applying for CST and HST in surgery as well as an interview with Professor Helen Heneghan – Consultant Bariatric Surgeon and Professor of Surgery in UCD.

Charter Week is taking place in February and the ISTG Charter Day session will be held on the 7^th of February. There will be talks relating to surgery in lower and middle income countries as well as a panel discussion on medical tourism. The Bosco O’Mahony lecture will be given by Professor Conrad Timon, Consultant Otolaryngologist in St James’s Hospital. Later in the year, the Silver Scalpel Award will be presented in June. This is presented each year to a consultant in recognition of their substantial contributions surgical training and is a much looked forward to event each year.

On behalf of the ISTG and we wish all the trainees a safe and happy holidays!