Dear All,
I have just got back from the Nottingham BAPS SpR Training day(s),
which was superb. We had the benefit of Marc Levitt from Cincinatti
Children's Hospital teaching about ano-rectal malformations and bowel
management. I would recommend looking at their website
(www.cchmc.org/colorectal ) or going on their colorectal course.

Somewhere during the proceedings I managed to get voted in as the new
trainees' rep, to represent paediatric surgery trainees alongside Iain
Yardley. Thanks go to Jonathan Sutcliffe, who has now stepped down –
you did an excellent job and have very big shoes to fill!

Because I did not introduce myself properly, and many of you were not
there, I thought I should do it on this forum.

My name is Clare Rees (email:c.rees@...) and I am a Flexible
SpR Trainee in year 1/2. I am currently at Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital, and have previously done a few (well, 4) years of research
at GOSH/ICH. I have 4 year old twins and am also trying to write my MD
thesis, so keeping pretty busy.

I will be honoured to represent all of you – full time or flexible,
male or female, ST/SpR/somewhere in the middle. I didn't realise what
the trainee reps did – in fact, I probably still don't realise the
half of it – but I am beginning to see that the reps really do
represent us to our bosses, colleagues, the college and the SAC. So,
if you feel strongly about something please do let me or Iain know so
that we can do something about it.

Obviously MTAS/MMC may be the first thing that comes to mind, so
please read the letter that Iain has drafted to the SAC with regards
to this. If you agree or disagree with it, let us know.

So thanks for voting for me, and please let me know if you have
anything to say.
Cheers,
Clare.