It is my pleasure as RCSI President to welcome you to the first RCSI Trainee eZine. COVID-19 has resulted in many unwelcome changes to our personal and professional lives however with disruption comes opportunity for innovation. While I cannot claim that the launch of the Trainee eZine is that innovative, it is a welcome improvement in the in how RCSI and trainees communicate.

I look forward to the eZine becoming a vibrant interactive portal in which issues important to trainees are voiced and a platform through which important information regarding training, assessment, continuing educational and research opportunities are communicated.

Professor Oscar Traynor’s article on the impact of COVID-19 on surgical training is a must read. You can be assured that I  have made clear the importance of maintaining access to high quality training opportunities in my interactions with the Department of Health, HSE, Irish Medical Council and other training bodies, including our sister Royal Colleges. Simply put, training and retaining the best of our surgical graduates is not optional and must remain a priority notwithstanding  the pandemic.

Dr. David Brinkman’s report of the activities of the Irish surgical Training Group reflects the activities of the Group over the past year and particularly the efforts of Ms Christina Buckley and her committee. I was privileged to have been present at the Careers Day during Charter Week. I hope that COVID-19 restrictions will have eased by next year’s meeting to allow the animated debate to continue.

Please do use the on-line links to the various sites on the College portal to assess information. It is especially important to look after your own health – physical and mental. Recognize early signs of burnout in yourself or in colleagues, access the resources available and take measures necessary to alleviate the causes. The message throughout is to keep safe for yourself, your family and for the patients who need your expertise.

I look forward to interacting with as many of you as possible through the eZine, newsletters, webinars and in person as soon as restrictions allow.