Australian Scholar Enjoys Excellent Learning Experience at Clinical Congress

I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of the John Buckingham Travelling Scholarship, administered by the Board of Surgical Research, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. This scholarship allowed me to travel to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in Chicago, IL, in 2015.

I had a great experience in Chicago—a city I had not had the pleasure of visiting previously. I found it to be a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with fascinating architecture, lovely people, and surprisingly pleasant climate at that time of year!

The Clinical Congress itself was an excellent learning experience. I attended didactic lectures and several research presentations, mainly in colorectal surgery (where my specific interests lie), delivered by a variety of experts in their fields. I learned many new and interesting methods of managing difficult clinical problems, and caught up with the latest advances in the management of complex colorectal conditions. I also had the opportunity to meet my future colleagues and surgical mentors from MD Anderson Cancer Center, where I will be undertaking a colorectal fellowship next year.

The venue and social activities were also quite enjoyable, in particular the Taste of the City event, which had a very welcoming feel.

I am grateful to the ACS for having me and for running an excellent Clinical Congress. I look forward to being more involved with the College in the years to come.