ISKSAA ABERDEEN TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIPS

Duration - Two weeks (20-05-2013 to 02-06-2013) under Dr. Kapil Kumar "I appreciate the efforts that the organisers of ISKSAA have put in arrangement of this fellowship. I am truly indebted to them to choose such good faculty in a center of excellence which has give me a new way of thinking in management of my patients. I especially want to thank Dr. Lait Maini, Dr. Pushpinder Bajaj for the energy they are spending in making the world a better place, I know it takes a huge effort. In the end I would like to thank Mr.Kapil Kumar a fantastic teacher and a helpful mentor with a clear conscience that reflects in whatever he has done for us. It is a lifetime treasure which will stay with us till time immemorial."

I am greatly obliged that ISKSAA gave me an opportunity to enhance my skills from one of the best centers and a superb mentor. One could say that two weeks is too short a time to learn anything worthwhile. I reckon this period is just enough to balance all your needs and requirements as a young consultant. It gave an adequate exposure to a prepared mind, just enough time for recreation and adequate free time to analyze. In our scenario the cases were planned such that we saw almost all the surgical cases pertaining to shoulder. The first day was a warm welcome from the staff of Woodend Hospital. Mr. Clive Mattews was extremely helpful in familiarizing us with the hospital and rest of the staff. Adequate arrangements were made and information given to the theatre staff. They were very warm and welcoming. We also had a look at what other surgeons were operating and got to attend the outpatient clinic where we cleared our doubts, learnt about clinical examination and decision making in various shoulder ailments. It was also nice to get exposed to the working of NHS. The first thing Mr. Kumar said was that no question is stupid, there are only stupid answers, and aptly so, his encouragement made us feel free to ask and clear all our apprehensions. All our doubts from portal making, normal anatomy to complex double row technique and repair of the cuff, impingement, reverse shoulder Arthroplasty, short stem prosthesis so on and so forth were cleared satisfactorily. He was kind enough to pick us up from the airport and show us the way to our accommodation in the staff quarters which was quite comfortable. We did not face any difficulty as far as eating and residence was concern. I can proudly say that I am enlightened as far as shoulder is concerned in my practice and it is making a difference.

We had a visit to Dufftown, where the famous distillery of Glenfiddich is situated. We had a guided tour and whisky tasting session. It was a cold day. The return was on a stagecoach bus which gave us the tour of entire east coast of Scotland. It was mesmerizing to see daylight till ten 'o' clock in the evening. We had a nice elaborate dinner sponsored by Arthrex in Melmeson. We discussed about the differences in health services in U.K. and in India and about our college UCMS, Delhi. In the weekend I could have the time to visit our old friends in York, Manchester and Norwich and touch Edinburgh and New Castle. I travelled through the national train network which was a memorable experience with breathtaking landscapes.

We said goodbye with a fulfilled heart, enriched mind and accomplished goals..

Dr. Vibhore Singhal

M.B.B.S, M.S. Ortho
Fellow Adult Reconstruction, SGH Singapore
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bensups Hospital, New Delhi.

Photographs taken during the visit