The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has launched a pioneering new faculty, the Faculty of Postgraduate Surgical Educators to maximise the quality and value of postgraduate surgical education in Ireland.

The Faculty will work to increase the profile and recognition of surgical education and training and to ensure that excellence in surgical training equates to excellence and safety in patient care.

Speaking at the launch of the Faculty, Prof. Oscar Traynor, Director of the National Surgical Training Centre, RCSI, said: "The surgical training landscape is continually evolving with shorter training times and a move towards more competency-based training. Excellence in surgical training is the first step in the delivery of high-quality patient care in the future, and trainees themselves now demand increased accountability, quality and excellence in their training. The Faculty of Postgraduate Surgical Educators will encourage new initiatives and new ideas in terms of how we can deliver excellence in surgical training and with the opening of a new Academic and Education Building for RCSI in 2016, we feel the time is now right to launch this Faculty.”  

The Faculty of Postgraduate Surgical Educators will comprise of 18 members initially who will be involved in teaching, assessments and curriculum development across surgical training in RCSI. 

An event was held in the National Surgical Training Centre yesterday evening to announce the launch of the Faculty. Speakers at the event included Mr Declan J. Magee, RCSI President, Prof. Arnold Hill, RCSI Professor of Surgery & Head of the School of Medicine, Prof. Oscar Traynor, Director of the National Surgical Training Centre and Mr Eunan Friel, Managing Director of the Department of Surgical Affairs.