Scottish medical college launches surgical hub with NHS Highland

A leading medical college has joined forces with NHS Highland (NHSH) to establish a new Surgical Education Research and Innovation Lab (SERI Lab), marking a significant leap forward in surgical education and innovation research.

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and NHSH have formed a five-year partnership to co-host the virtual SERI Lab, which is set to become an internationally renowned hub for surgical education research and innovation.

Set to launch in early 2024, the lab will be used for healthcare professionals to share and develop new ideas and methods to help surgeons learn and practice.

Professor Rowan Parks, president of RCSEd, said it will allow surgical professionals to research advancements in surgical training technology such as robotics, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, all of which will help to shape the next 30 years of surgical practice: "The establishment of the SERI Lab is a pivotal moment for surgical education and research, and this new, dynamic hub is set to have far-reaching impact—locally, nationally, and globally.”

The virtual hub has been funded for the next three years, with a long-term vision for groups to help shape policy in how surgical training should be carried in the UK, whether that be developing curriculum, the use of simulation, and other technologies that can be used by the next generation of talented surgeons.