Health Minister to chair surgeons’ debate
Wednesday 21 October, 2009
Victorian Health Minister, the Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, will chair a debate on the need for surgeons to
strike a balance between work and lifestyle, when surgeons gather in Lorne this week for the Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons’ Victorian Annual General Scientific and Fellowship Meeting
(AGSFM).
Two teams of surgeons will debate the proposition “You can achieve a balance between surgery and
lifestyle” on Friday afternoon.
The theme of the Conference, “Training, Working, Living … Finding the Balance”, is particularly timely,
given growing concerns about safe working hours for medical practitioners and recent calls for a move
away from the “Master Surgeon” model to a more team based approach to surgical care. Striking such a
balance is also crucial to the good health of surgeons themselves.
The theme will be further developed by humourist, author and journalist Kerry Cue, who will address
delegates to the conference on Saturday.
The AGSFM also enables surgeons and surgical Trainees to present papers relating to scientific research
and clinical reviews across a range of surgical specialties and subspecialties. There will also be teaching
sessions in which delegates can learn new surgical techniques.
With the conference being held this year in their “backyard”, a considerable number of presentations will
be given by surgeons from Barwon Health.
Chair of the College’s Victorian State Committee, Mr Michael Dobson, said that, much like its theme,
this year’s Conference aimed to strike a balance between work and leisure.
“While the Conference features dozens of scientific presentations, delegates will also be encouraged to
take tai chi classes on the beach, participate in the rogaining competition, and attend the dinner and
hypothetical on Saturday evening,” Mr Dobson said.
The Conference runs from the 23rd
to the 25th
of October, and is being held at the Cumberland Lorne
Resort.
Media inquiries: Michael Barrett, Manager Media & Public Relations –
0429 028 933 or (03) 9249 1263
ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
MEDIA RELEASE
NEWS 
