Latest News
NEW PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE IAS
Dr Ceri Davis has kindly agreed to take up position as Vice President of
the IAS after former Vice President Dave Wilson was promoted to
President of the IAS
AWARD OF FIRST EVER IAS DIPLOMA!
Tracy Cuffe registered for the Diploma in 2004 completing Level 1 a year later. Don Farr and Steve Gaze were tasked with a visitation to Cork in March of 2007 to Viva Tracy on her Level 2 and 3 practical units. It was at the Spring meeting in April of this year that she was awarded her Level 2 certificate.
Following the submission of the rest of her Level 3 Theory units over this summer, and them being assessed and graded, it was with much satisfaction that the Institute Awarded it's first ever 'Full Diploma in Anatomical Sciences' to Tracy Cuffe at the Brighton Autumn Scientific meeting.
Photograph to follow!
Report on Day One of the Institute of Anatomical Sciences Provincial Meeting by Donald Farr
University of Sussex at Brighton, Thursday 6th September 2007
Since the Medical School at Brighton opened in 2003 I have wanted the IAS to hold its Autumn meeting on the site. Finally, 4 years later, in a blaze of sunshine the meeting started. I was particularly interested personally, in seeing the new facility, as I had initially acted in a role of Safety Consultant, liaising with Sussex University Safety Staff, and contractors, explaining and demonstrating requirements and problems unique to Dissecting Rooms. A number of joint meetings were held at Guy’s, which hopefully contributed to the finished design at Brighton.
The day started with John Ben and Jes travelling south down the M1 and turning left (clockwise) onto the M25 to reach the M23. WRONG. The M25 was blocked by the wreckage of two jousting lorries and John and Jes sat for two hours, rewriting their talks, wondering if they would ever arrive in time to give them. Julie and I were also travelling south, and John’s phone call encouraged us to travel anti-clockwise on the M25.
Fortunately everyone arrived on time, lunch was enjoyed and, with 30 delegates in the audience, Professor Di Lawrence Watt opened the meeting, welcoming the IAS and then talking in detail on how they teach anatomy in Brighton and Sussex.
Next speaker was Dave Hinchliffe from Sheffield. Dave detailed his career in Sheffield from junior technician many years ago. He went on to detail how he gradually improved the grading and reputation, responsibility and standing of his Dissecting Room staff – Then the firebells rang and we had to evacuate the building – a first for an IAS meeting! The arrival of the lone fire engine was impressive, but not as impressive as the sight of the Leading Lady Fire Person to some of the audience!
Eventually Dave resumed his talk and told us of his rise in status from Technical staff to Managerial staff, and more recently to Academic staff scales – The HTA involvement, and his Designated Individual (D.I) status and extra responsibilities contributing to his financial advantage. This certainly allows him to indulge his passions of drumming in a tribute rock band, shooting and motorcycle racing. An interesting, told straight as it is, talk.
The tea break followed, cut short by the fire alarm, and we resumed with Rachael Winnard, from Hull York, who told us about difficulties encountered with teaching on two campuses – compounded by the fact of 37 miles between the campuses! Interesting and enjoyable talk and nice to note that it was the first given by a member of staff at Hull York Medical School.
The programme was rejigged and we had two talks from Nottingham to finish the first day. The first by Jes Squire was interesting and detailed the development of the Museum facility at QMC from its temporary home in a cow shed to its present day location designed (and built?) by John Ben. Frequent reference to John and lovely black and white photographs of ‘young’ John, complete with pipe, concluded Jes’s talk and introduced us to the last speaker of the day – John Ben.
John’s talk was fascinating and interesting. His brief – just the last 5,000 years! John introduced pictures and drawings which demonstrated that man, way way before our time, had acquired medical and anatomical knowledge and associated skills.
The range of speakers on the first day was excellent. From Professor Di Lawrence-Watt’s professionalism, through Dave’s enthusiasm and Rachael’s obvious enjoyment of her role at HYMS, finishing with Jes and John’s interesting presentations. It was sad to see John sitting down to give his presentation due to health problems, but it also brought John closer to his audience, both physically and emotionally.
An excellent first day. Sadly Julie and I had other arrangements to honour in Rugby on the day; therefore we missed the Conference Dinner as well as being able to enjoy the second day’s talks.
Well done Steve Franey for the arrangements he made for the meeting, galling that he was unable to attend on the day due to being responsible for a large conference at King’s.
Well-done Steve Gaze for arranging the programme. The speakers on the programme for the second day, like the first day, were predominantly hands on, practical staff, totally representative of the membership of the IAS. Steve must have successfully done a lot of arm-twisting to get such a superb programme of speakers.
Nice to see so many IAS friends. Delighted to see that the future of the IAS looks really good with the AGM and Spring meeting being hosted by Vin at Charing Cross on Monday April 7th 2008.
Next year at this time we will be at Dundee Medical School, hosted by my old friend Roger Soames. 2009 looks encouraging also, with the new look proposed 2 day Spring meeting at Liverpool and the September meeting at Hull York.
Thank you Brighton.
IAS JOURNAL ARTICLES
The IAS journal is now calling for articles for the next edition. Would
you like to tell us about your department? Your work? Some research you
are doing? Do you have any tips or tricks you use to make your work
easier? Let us know.
If you are used to writing articles, the
"Instructions to Authors" are at the back of each copy of the journal.
If you have something interesting to tell us but you are inexperienced
at writing - we can help you.
For further details, please contact Dave Adams - Editor
Email: david.adams@rjah.nhs.uk
2007 SPRING AGM AT KINGS COLLEGE, LONDON
Photos of the Spring Meeting are available for download
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6 or compatible is required
http://www.anatomical-sciences.co.uk/iasspr07i.pdf
New Council Members
4 New Council Members have been elected after the retirement of 4 Council Members at the AGM at the King's College London meeting this April
Secretary: Kate Sparey from Bristol who has taken the reigns over from Bill Wrigley
Education Officer: Tracey Cuffe from Cork who has taken over from Sue Evans
Newsletter Editors: Kirsty Thompson and Stella McDonald from London who will be taking over from Babz Defriez-Irving
Public Relations Officer: Rachel Winnard from HYMS who has taken over from Mel Lazenby
Well done to our new Council Members for stepping up and a big thanks to our Retirees for your valued contribution to the IAS
The IAS sees it's first travel bursary recipient
The IAS welcomed Prof Muhammad Saeed Shafi, (Shifa college of medicine, Istanbul, Pakistan) who was the first to be awarded the IAS travel bursary to attend the AGM at KCL
Education news
Tracey Cuffe was awarded her level 2 diploma certificate after completing a Viva exam on all practcal elements completed at the University of Cork in March
Formalin Presentation
A copy of the presentation given by Mrs Zoë Gaffen (MDL Technical Staff, King’s College London) titled “An alternative to Formalin in the Preservation of stored tissue”
Is now available to view and discuss on the Members’ Forum. The forum is accessed through the members’ section and is only available to IAS Members. If you have forgotten how to access the Members’ section or the Forum please contact the Webmaster (Sue Standley) sue.standley@uea.ac.uk
For queries regarding membership of the IAS please refer to the Qualifications & Enrolment Resources section
Institute of Anatomical Sciences Travel Bursary
Have you ever thought about going to another country to learn about a particular anatomical technique? Or are you a non-UK member who wished you could come to one of our meetings in London, or to a two-day autumn meeting in a provincial university?
In June of this year the Council of the IAS met at University College, London, for one of our regular meetings where we discuss all matters concerning the running of the Institute.
One of our aims has always been that we should try to improve the professional status of our membership and help with continual professional development in any way we could. Although we are never going to be a wealthy Institute, we are in a healthy financial state, and under Any Other Business we discussed the introduction of a Travel Bursary that was open to ALL paid up members.
A fund of approximately £500 is available to ALL fully paid up members of the Institute (of any age or nationality) to encourage their attendance at IAS conference or other scientific meetings; to encourage international collaboration; or to provide funding to further their educational needs. This £500 may be awarded in total to one individual or may be shared between applicants.
Applications are invited for a travel bursary that is to be awarded by the Institute. The purpose of this award is to support academic work by: allowing overseas and UK members attendance at conferences and meetings; encouraging international collaboration; involving research of high merit; or supporting studies such as members who are studying for the Diploma in Anatomical Science.
Applications, giving details of the proposed trip (including estimated total cost and any other support anticipated), should be received by the Executive Secretary by 1st August 2007. All applications will be issued with a number to anonamise the applicant and a sub-committee of Council will vet all applications on the basis of likely academic benefits. An individual will not normally receive more than one award every three years. The Institute reserves the right to make no awards.
The successful applicant will be expected to write an article or paper for publication in the IAS newsletter or Journal giving a report on their visit or experiences. The size of this article should be comparable with a Diploma Level 2 Theory Unit (2000-3000 words).
If you are interested in applying for the Travelling Bursary you should download an application form below or contact the Executive Secretary:
Mr John Ben F.I.A.S.
Department of Histopathology
Nottingham University Hospitals Trust
QMC Campus
Derby Road
Nottingham
NG7 2UH
U.K.
John.ben@nuh.nhs.uk
So come on, start thinking of what you would like to do and apply!
John Ben
Download a copy of the Travel Bursary Application Form here:
http://www.anatomical-sciences.co.uk/travelbursary.ppt
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The Institute of Anatomical Sciences