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Hi, I'm Efe, a second-year medical student with a strong interest in surgery, and I am excited to apply for the role of Surgical Specialty Representative. As a committed member of the society for the past three years, I have developed a deep appreciation for its role in supporting aspiring surgeons and promoting the full breadth of surgical specialties.

Throughout my time with the society, I have consistently attended surgical conferences, the suturing series, and a wide range of talks and workshops. These experiences have not only strengthened my interest in surgery but have also given me a clear understanding of what makes educational and networking events engaging and valuable for students. I am eager to step into this role and grow in this area — bringing with me insight as a long-term participant and a strong desire to contribute meaningfully.

I am particularly interested in Orthopaedic surgery, but I am committed to ensuring that all surgical fields are represented. I would welcome the chance to work collaboratively with fellow representatives and specialty-specific medical societies to develop diverse, inclusive events and opportunities for our members. I value clear communication, teamwork, and organisation, and I am confident that these skills will allow me to thrive in this role.

This position would be an exciting next step in my surgical journey, and I am determined to support the society in expanding its reach and impact.

Thank you for your consideration.

Hi everyone, I’m Olivia, the current vice president-treasurer of Cutting Edge. I am currently intercalating in Clinical Anatomy at Leeds between my third and fourth years of medicine.

Over the past years, I have shown my dedication to the Cutting Edge committee by organising various events. For the past two years, I have organised and run the highly successful suturing series, attending every session to ensure our members enjoy it! This year, I was also involved in organising our national conference alongside the exec committee members. I've been a consistent presence, from examining at the popular third-year MOSCE to teaching first and second-year students at the anatomy DR revision sessions.

These experiences have given me the ability to provide successful surgical society events. Now, as I look towards the role of Speciality Representative, I am keen to deliver even more targeted and exciting events. I plan to organise engaging surgical speciality talks and hands-on workshops covering a diverse range of fields – including orthopaedics, plastics, general surgery and many more! I will use my surgical connections I've created during my time on the Cutting Edge committee to bring surgeons to events. Furthermore, I will collaborate with other surgical societies, creating larger-scale events that offer greater networking and learning possibilities.

I believe my proactive approach, along with my friendly and organised nature, makes me an ideal candidate for this role!

Thank you for reading my statement, and I hope to be part of the committee again next year!

Olivia

Hello, my name is Shadan and I’m a 2nd year medical student! I’d love to be one of your Specialty Reps for next year :))

Since first year I have attended the Cutting Edge conferences and workshops, showing a keen interest in exploring the different career paths in surgery and I would love to help others do the same just as was done for me. Participating in the suturing series for the previous 2 years, I am enthusiastic in engaging with events and am familiar with the high standard Cutting Edge holds itself to and I am confident and dedicated to deliver to this.

While being very enthusiastic about surgery, I am not yet sure what surgical specialty I would like to pursue and understand the importance of making sure that there is a suitable range of talks/events covering the different specialties so people can have a fair outlook on the options available.

Additionally, I have been on MSRC for 2 years and am well experienced in managing my time efficiently and organising multiple responsibilities in order to fulfil my role to the best of my ability.

Apart from being a Specialty Rep, I would be also importantly a member of the team, wanting to listen and apply your ideas and feedback into events that you want to see.

Overall, I would love to be on this team as I am passionate about sharing my love and interest for surgery.

Thank you for reading and I would really appreciate your vote!
Shadan :))

Hello, my name is Lyanne Chung, and I will be going into my second year this September. I’m excited to apply for the Specialty Representative role within Cutting Edge, as I have a strong interest in surgery—especially in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics.

I’ve been actively involved with Cutting Edge, volunteering as a patient during MOSCEs and completing the six-week suturing course, which deepened my enthusiasm for surgical skills and clinical learning. These experiences gave me insight into the value of early surgical exposure and the importance of accessible, engaging opportunities for students.

As Specialty Representative, I’d love to help organise and facilitate events across the full range of surgical specialties, and act as a liaison with specialty-specific medical societies. I’m especially keen to build partnerships with other university societies to create more collaborative and enriching experiences for members.

I’m organised, motivated, and enjoy working in a team, and I believe I can contribute positively to Cutting Edge’s goal of representing all surgical specialties.

Thank you for considering my application.

— Lyanne Chung

Hi, I’m Panos Mastorakos, a third-year medical student with a strong interest in surgery and a passion for helping others explore the vast landscape of surgical specialties.

Over the past three years, I’ve been deeply involved in the surgical academic world. I’ve attended multiple national and international conferences, where I’ve built meaningful connections with surgeons and peers from various specialties. I’ve had the privilege of presenting a poster at an international conference and publishing a paper on breast reconstruction, a field I’m especially passionate about.

In addition to academic writing, I’m currently involved in multiple research projects, including clinical audits and quality improvement work, which have further developed my understanding of surgical practice and systems-based care. These experiences have not only sharpened my organisational and analytical skills but also shown me how important specialty-specific knowledge is in delivering better outcomes for patients—and better education for students.

As Specialty Representative, I want to take that passion and experience and turn it into targeted, high-quality events—including specialty talks, hands-on workshops, and collaborative sessions with surgical societies from around the country. Whether it’s plastics, general surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, or beyond, I want to ensure all fields are represented and accessible to our members. And with the connections I’ve developed through my academic and clinical work, I’m confident I can bring in inspiring speakers and collaborators.

I’m enthusiastic, organised, and genuinely committed to making Cutting Edge’s specialty events even more impactful. I’d love the chance to help shape the next stage of the society’s journey.

Thanks for reading—I hope to be part of the team moving forward!