In June, I had the privilege of attending the Triennial and ICOSET Conferenceat the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, where I presented my poster titled “Developing Sustainable Healthcare Turas Modules.” This project, which I completed with the University last summer, involved creating four educational modules aimed at increasing awareness of sustainable healthcare among healthcare professionals.
Turas, a digital platform developed by NHS Education for Scotland, is widely used for staff training. Over six weeks, I researched and developed four modules exploring the intersection of healthcare and climate change. These modules introduce key concepts such as the health impacts of climate change, the environmental footprint of healthcare systems, and the role clinicians and educators play in driving sustainable practices.
While these modules provide a strong foundation, further content was planned for future development. These include three additional modules focused on Prevention of Disease and Patient Empowerment; Low-Carbon Alternatives in Clinical Practice; and Sustainable Quality Improvement.
At the conference, I had the opportunity to attend a variety of engaging presentations by inspiring speakers. Their talks broadened my understanding of both surgical careers and healthcare innovation. I also had the chance to connect with fellow professionals, share my work, and receive valuable feedback on my poster. The event took place in a beautiful venue connected to the Surgeons’ Hall Museums, which I was fortunate to explore. A personal highlight was reconnecting with a doctor I had previously met during my elective in Ghana. It was a delightful and unexpected reunion, and I enjoyed learning more about his research, which he also presented at the conference.
I’m incredibly grateful to my supervisors, Dr Andrew Dallas and Dr Morven Wilson, for their support throughout this project. I’d also like to thank NHS Highland for providing access to the platform for creating the modules. Sustainable healthcare is a field I am passionate about and I hope to continue developing this interest more throughout my medical career.
