NDASS - Notre Dame Association of Surgical Specialties

🏥 That’s a wrap on Orthopaedic Study Day 2026!

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, our incredible consultants and registrars for sharing their knowledge, and all who helped make the day such a success. From practical insights to inspiring discussions, it was an unforgettable day of learning and connection.

Special thanks to our amazing sponsors — Avant, AOA, and Medartis — for your support in making this event possible.

We’re so grateful for the enthusiasm and effort from everyone involved. Until next time! 🦴📚🙌

🚨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧: 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 🚨

Thinking about a career in surgery but not sure how to navigate the path? The MASS Mentoring Program is back and we’re looking for the next group of motivated mentees.

This program pairs aspiring surgeons with experienced mentors to help you make the most of your early career. You’ll gain practical advice on surgical training, building your portfolio, and making the most of your clinical rotations — while connecting with others who share your interest in surgery.

𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲:
• 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝟐 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞
• 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫
• 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
• 𝐔𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟓𝟎-𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦

We’ll also be running a small study alongside the program to help improve surgical mentorship opportunities in the future. Participation is voluntary and not required to take part in the program but is highly recommended and appreciated.

If you’re keen to learn, connect, and take the next step toward a surgical career, we’d love to see your application.

🔗 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐑 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: https://forms.gle/KQy2N5V7smusne8o8

ASSA have recently launched their new podcast, The Operating List 🎧

Their first episode explores a proposed national medical program from Federation University and NewMed, featuring a conversation with the CEO of NewMed and the program’s Dean.

A great listen for anyone interested in the future of medical training and alternative pathways.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zBUigMT3n8VeBqCjJ0ivB?si=e0dc86e9911c47bc

Inside NewMed: A New Online Approach to Medical Training in Australia The Operating List · Episode

We’re pleased to share an upcoming event hosted by PVASS:

They are launching their Surgical Specialty Series 2026, a webinar series featuring trainees from two different surgical specialties at each session. These sessions will explore their pathways to SET, key challenges and lessons learned, as well as practical tips for CV building.

The first session will feature speakers from:
🩸 Vascular Surgery
🪡 General Surgery
📅 Date: April 10
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM AEST
💻 Location: Zoom

This is a great opportunity to gain insight into surgical training pathways and hear directly from current trainees.

We are delighted to present an opportunity for Notre Dame Medical Students to attend the Dr Annie Sparrow Keynote presentation/session at the RACS Annual Scientific Congress 2026 on Friday, 1 May 2026 at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, as part of the Opening Plenary Session 🚨

Any interested medical students will just need to register their complimentary place via the link below. Please note that the complimentary registration is for this session only.

https://surgeons.eventsair.com/asc2026/openingplenarypass/Site/Register


Dr Annie Sparrow

Dr Annie Sparrow is an Australian paediatric intensivist and global health specialist whose work focuses on conflict settings, emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. Since 2012 she has worked extensively in Syria and eastern Congo, training local clinicians, supporting outbreak responses, and documenting systematic attacks on healthcare. Her articulation of the weaponization of healthcare is now widely used to describe war strategies that inflict mass casualties while obstructing access to medical care. She has advised WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for several years on health challenges in conflict zones and emergency settings.

Her fieldwork spans more than two decades across Afghanistan, Haiti, Timor-Leste, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Lebanon, Syria and eastern Congo in the DRC, with an annual programme on remote Idjwi Island providing large-scale screening and treatment for malaria, anaemia, parasitic infections, poxes and kwashiorkor. Dr Sparrow collaborates widely with human rights organisations, sporting associations, trade unions, the private and education sectors, and has testified on war crimes before the U.S. Congress, the Irish Dáil and the International Criminal Court.

She has guided responses to major outbreaks including polio, cholera, Ebola, Covid-19 and mpox, and elevated the global threat of anti-microbial resistance through her work on drivers of resistant pathogens in modern conflicts and potential solutions. Dr Sparrow publishes in The Lancet and NEJM and writes regularly for leading international policy journals on topics including the politicization of aid under the United Nations, AMR and other global threats, chemical weapons and the new biological warfare.

09.Opening Plenary Session Only Pass Registration (Medical Students) Please note that this registration form permits access to the specified session only. To purchase a registration to allow full access to the Congress, please click here.

We’re proud to work with the Australasian Students’ Surgical Association (ASSA) — a student-run organisation that connects surgical societies across Australia and New Zealand and offers lots of opportunities for surgical education, leadership, skills development and networking!

They’ve got some fantastic events lined up, including the Australasian Students’ Surgical Conference (ASSC) in Melbourne from 15–17 May 2026, featuring workshops, keynote sessions, research presentations and social events to meet like-minded peers from around the region.

If you’re interested in getting involved or want more information, please email [email protected] — we’d love to connect you!

https://www.facebook.com/anzsurgsoc

ASSA - Australasian Students' Surgical Association ASSA connects and supports the surgical societies of Australia and New Zealand to develop, inspire and educate the next generation of surgical leaders.

📸 to an unforgettable Suturing Night this past April!

Whether you were putting together your first mattress suture, or refining your subcuticulars, this night was all about growth and learning. Here's to many more nights of honing our craft and supporting each other! 💪✨

See below for moments of concentration, teamwork, and success! 📷➡️

A huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to our incredible mentors, Dr. Oyinda Orundami, Dr. Oliver Taylor, Dr. Arran Nash, Dr. Gabrielle Shepherd, Dr. Gargeswari Sunanda, Dr. Gabrielle Croker, and Dr. Astrid Leusink, for their dedication and expertise in making this event a success! 👏 Your commitment to teaching and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals is truly inspiring. 🌟

A fantastic day co-hosted by NDASS - Notre Dame Association of Surgical Specialties and the Australian Orthopaedic Association. A massive thank you to all of the consultants, registrars and sponsors who came down and shared their experience and expertise with medical students interested in developing their orthopaedic skills!

⚡FINAL WEEKEND SALE OF 2024 ASSC TICKETS! ⚡

Dear students of UNDF,

The 2024 Australasian Students' Surgical Conference is blasting off to New Zealand 🍃🐑🥝 this May for our very first time, and it's going to be epic!✨ Calling all medical students, no matter what year you're in. 👀
Don't miss out on this opportunity to level up on your surgical skills🦾, ignite your passion🎇, and meet other students 🥳 just as interested in surgery as you are.

What’s included in your ticket?
Admission to all 3 days of the conference
Surgical materials for workshops
Food (3x lunches, 2x dinners)
2x Social events
Accommodation discounts
Exclusive deals from our sponsors
Tickets are closing in 48 hours!

https://linktr.ee/assc24?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=2815c45c-65f5-45a5-ba7b-844767807597

👩‍⚕️ We are proud to present your NDASS committee for 2024! 👨‍⚕️

President: Jake Collins
Vice President: Alexa Prawdiuk
Secretary: Megan Banks
Treasurer: Akaiti James
Events Coordinators: Sophie Conroy and Oscar Hocking
Media: Eda Pui
Diversity: Angeline Filiex
1st year reps: Brigitte Choo and Hetvi Shah
2nd year reps: Heather Booysen and Ellen Foulkes
3rd year reps: Mathew Daly and Alex Shams
4th year reps: Indiana Scanlon and Ira Howard

Thank you to all of our talented applicants for applying. Stay tuned for our first event brought to you by this amazing group of people soon! 🌟