In May 2024, I was invited to present my elective study at the "The European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology" (EFORT) in Hamburg. Baffled and surprised, it was an honour as a student of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition to present my research at such a prestigious event.
Having never presented any research at an ARI lunch meeting, never-mind an international conference, with all the brightest minds in orthopaedics, I was nervous to say the least. My first day I met colleagues from the Trauma & Orthopaedic dept. ward 212, Aberdeen. I immediately felt a sense of warmth and welcoming nature. They were complimentary that a 5th year was presenting and explained how it would be consultants from the likes of London, Spain and Tunisia presenting alongside me. They made me feel very proud of my achievements and immediately suggested we go out and see the city. When touring around the local area I happened to bump into a close friend who I hadn’t seen in 2 years and the ARI group ended up meeting all the Glasgow Royal Infirmary group, which was a lovely experience. A couple of karaoke bars later I was in bed and getting ready for the first day of the conference.
The first day was amazing, with such wonderful opportunities to meet more welcoming and insightful people. I ended up meeting a consultant from Spain who was promoting the waste of antibiotics used post operatively. Especially as they were given preoperatively and during the operation. This made me review how other countries health systems and how our own could possibly be bettered in the future. At the end of the first day we scootered to the beautiful ‘Alster fountain’ where I sat with the junior surgeons again, who guided me on how to keep calm and present calmly at the conference the next day.
It was finally the day of my presentation. I spent the morning in my hostel reading over my presentation notes and preparing for any unexpected questions from the consultants that would present alongside me. I arrived at the venue two hours earlier and viewed the room, it was a 200 person venue. I immediately felt a sense of reality I was presenting at a major conference. I then went to the podium and presented to an empty room eager to show Europe our study.
Now it was time to present and my co-author, James Dixon, met before to give me a pep talk. I suddenly felt like I was back on the rugby pitch as a 7-year-old, butterflies filling my stomach. I began to present and it all came together. I began to look toward the Aberdeen team and felt that same sense of pride they had given me on the first night. I was then followed by an Italian consultant who had designed his own prosthesis in Leeds and trialed it on patients. It felt crazy to be sharing the stage with such an esteemed member of the field.
I’d like to thank all my co-authors, especially James Dixon ST3 who without his help I wouldn’t have been there. Furthermore I’d like to thank the university for supporting me throughout my studies and pushing me into research.