RCOG

In this honest and empowering episode, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Ms Nuha Yassin to explore one of the most common yet least openly discussed challenges in medicine: imposter syndrome. A Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham and Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Birmingham, Dr Yassin shares her personal experiences of self-doubt th...

In this energising and insightful episode, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Dr Tracy-Louise Appleyard OBE — the podcast’s first OBE recipient — to explore how military medicine can transform the way we lead, train and make decisions in healthcare. A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at North Bristol NHS Trust and Defence Consultant Adviser in Obstetrics and Gynaecology fo...

In this inspiring episode, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Dr Amy Keightley to discuss how innovation, leadership, and ambition can transform surgical opportunities beyond tertiary centres. Working at Great Western Hospital, Dr Keightley shares her journey into gynaecological oncology, her experience in a unit-led gynae-oncology role, and how she established a CMR robotic surger...

In this reflective and energising episode of Knot to be Missed: the RCOG Surgical Skills Podcast, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Dr Simon Frazer, paediatrician and founder of Doctors Training, to explore what makes training meaningful, sustainable and human. Simon shares his journey from clinical paediatrics into medical education, including the importance of finding the 'extra...

In this episode, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Dr Sarah Maling to explore how innovative thinking can unlock new surgical training opportunities. Dr Maling shares how she helped create access to high-volume surgical training outside traditional NHS settings, ensuring trainees could continue to gain hands-on operative experience safely and effectively. Her work offers valuable...

In this episode, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey speak with Dr Rebecca McKay, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and the associate dean for abortion training, about the future of surgical abortion training in the UK. They explore how abortion care has evolved, what this means for current and future trainees, and the dual need for emergency skills and a elective sustainable consultant w...

Every surgeon remembers their first truly unwell patient — the adrenaline, the uncertainty, the weight of getting it right. Miss Christine Ang joins us to talk about how CCrISP and emergency simulation give trainees the closest thing to experience before the real crisis hits. Christine shares what she’s learned from directing the course, the barriers trainees face in the current system, and why si...

O&G staff are commonly exposed to psychologically traumatic events at work. In some cases, these experiences can trigger post-traumatic stress symptoms. Pauline explains the key set of symptoms that characterise post-traumatic stress and the impact these symptoms can have on organisations, staff and the patients in their care. Laura Goodfellow offers a detailed overview of the Good Practice Paper,...

In this episode, Laura Hipple and Kirsty Dundas discuss the value of peer support in our specialty. Kirsty shares insight into the peer support initiative in place at NHS Lothian in Scotland, which is offered to staff affected by adverse events in obstetrics and gynaecology. Kirsty explains what peer support is and what it isn’t, provides an overview of how it was set up in NHS Lothian, and reflec...

he RCOG is committed to working towards racial equity in the UK, through listening to our membership, raising awareness and sharing examples of good practice that can overcome differential attainment and workplace discrimination. In this episode, Laura Hipple and Farah Siddiqui celebrate the launch of the RCOG’s Race equity in the workforce resource. Farah summarises the College’s work in this are...

In this episode, Susie Crowe talks to co-founder of Psych Safety, Tom Geraghty, about what psychological safety is and why it is important in healthcare. Susie and Tom discuss how we can cultivate psychologically safe teams in obstetrics and gynaecology by modelling psychological safety, encouraging all members of the team to ask questions, flattening the hierarchy and providing people with the sp...

The RCOG Surgical Skills Project is only possible thanks to the extraordinary support of Hologic®, a global leader in women’s health innovation. In this episode, Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Ailsa Ormerod, whose clinical background and education expertise give her a powerful lens on what women’s healthcare needs next. We explore how Hologic’s mission aligns with improving surgical...

In this episode, Ganga Verma speaks to Katharine Backhouse and Ellie Carlisle about their involvement in establishing wellbeing initiatives in Wessex. They outline the rationale for setting up trainee open discussion groups and running a wellbeing-themed teaching day, to equip doctors with the tools they need to care for themselves and empower them to prioritise their own wellbeing. Katharine and...

Incivility and poor workplace behaviours can hinder psychological safety and impact team morale, effective communication, and overall team performance. These permissive environments can lead to defensive practice, high stress, burnout, and sickness.  In this episode, Laura Hipple, Ganga Verma, and Susie Crowe discuss the importance of promoting positive workplace behaviours in our specialty, for b...

In this special episode, Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Mr Fevzi Shakir, Consultant Gynaecologist and Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the BSGE Annual Scientific Meeting 2026, to explore his journey into advanced endoscopic surgery, the principles that shape high-quality surgical training, and the future direction of skills development in obstetrics and gynaecology. The co...

Surgical training has long relied on observation, opportunity, and the occasional raised eyebrow. In this episode, we explore a novel approach: an interactive, AI-enabled simulation that allows trainees to talk through decisions, explore anatomy in 3D, and receive immediate feedback — all outside the operating theatre. We’re joined by Dr Sophie Bracke, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology registrar with...

In this episode, Hannah and Naomi sit down with Dr Veronica Lerner, Director of Simulation at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and one of the leading voices in surgical education. Veronica shares her journey into minimally invasive surgery, how her experiences shaped her passion for simulation, and what the UK can learn from the US approach to validated training systems like FLS and EMIGS. She give...

In this episode, Hannah and Naomi speak with Hans Nagar, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at Belfast City Hospital, and Courtney McMullan, Subspecialty Trainee in Gynaecological Oncology, to explore the growing role of dual (buddy) operating in modern surgical practice. Drawing on their recently published paper on buddy operating in gynae-oncology, Hans and Courtney discuss how working as pair...

A key recommendation in the workforce of the future focus is review of complex obstetric operating and training. In this episode, the Surgical Skills Fellows are joined by Dr Alison Wright, Mr Albaro Jose Nieto Calvache and Dr Kat Barton to discuss the challenges in this area of O&G operating. ​ They discuss the introduction of a standardized protocol to enhance safety during challenging caesarean...

This episode comes with a twist: Professor Ranee Thakar steps in as guest-host to interview Surgical Skills Fellows Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey. Together they explore the highs, hurdles, and heartfelt moments of the RCOG Surgical Skills Project — from early-phase challenges to nationwide insights and what lies ahead in Phase 3. Expect thoughtful reflections, honest conversations, and just enoug...

In this episode, hosts Naomi and Hannah speak with Alan Horgan, consultant colorectal surgeon and surgical educator at Newcastle Hospitals. Alan shares his experience leading the UK’s first structured robotic surgery training programme, developed in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons and Intuitive Surgical. The discussion explores the future of robotic education, the importance of mult...

In this episode, Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Professor Malcolm Munro, Clinical Professor of O&G at UCLA and a global leader in minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery. Together, they delve into the development and impact of the EMIGS platform—a validated surgical training and assessment program now required for board certification in the U.S. Professor Munro shares insights from t...

How do you teach the teachers? In this episode, Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey chat with Mr Tom Ind about what makes a great surgical trainer. From feedback tips and adult learning theory to simulation and psychological safety, they uncover the secrets to training the next generation of surgeons. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your skills, this conversation is full of practical takea...

In this episode, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Dr Yvonne Neubauer, Deputy Medical Director at MSI Reproductive Choices, to explore the evolving landscape of surgical abortion training in the independent sector. They discuss the impact of shifting service provision on training opportunities, address common misconceptions about access to training outside the NHS, and highlight s...

In this episode, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Dr Ganga Verma, consultant obstetrician and RCOG workplace behaviour co-advisor, to delve into the critical role of civility and psychological safety in surgical training. Together, they unpack what incivility looks like in the theatre environment, how it impacts learning and team dynamics, and what steps individuals and instituti...