RSM Honorary Treasurer Rachel Hargest wins 2017 Silver Scalpel Award

Miss Rachel Hargest, President of the RSM’s Surgery Section and also RSM Honorary Treasurer, has been awarded the prestigious 2017 Silver Scalpel Award.

Organised by the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), the Silver Scalpel Award is presented annually to inspirational trainers who have scored highly across five categories: leadership, resourcefulness, training and development, professionalism and communication,

Only the second female surgeon to win the award in its 16 year history, Miss Hargest, who is a Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon at University Hospital of Wales, was nominated by trainees in Cardiff and further afield. The robust selection process included a hospital-based appraisal by two members of the ASiT Council who interviewed Miss Hargest and her clinical colleagues in Cardiff. The final round was scored by a group led by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England Medical Director, and a panel of other experts.

Miss Hargest was announced as the winner of the award during the ASiT Annual Conference in Bournemouth in April. She said: “I was surprised and honoured to be nominated for the Silver Scalpel by my trainees. I believe the award is due in part to my work for the RSM as a trustee and Section President and also through the educational meetings I have organised for trainees. I am very grateful to ASiT and to the trainees with whom I have had the pleasure of working.”

Dr Fiona Moss, RSM Dean, commented: “This is a fantastic award and we congratulate Rachel Hargest on her success. Being recognised in this way by trainees is one of the highest accolades for a clinical teacher. Excellent teachers are key to high quality medical education and the RSM benefits greatly from Rachel’s skills both as a teacher and her leadership in this area.”

Miss Hargest is pictured here holding the Silver Scalpel Award, which is sponsored by scalpel and blade manufacturer Swann Morton.