“Twenty years of the Silver Scalpel Award which I established as ASiT President, has reinforced that good service and good training go hand in hand – there is no conflict.  Excellent surgical trainers are leaders in education and their departments. We know the figures and we hear the stories – trainees are disengaged, and the profession is not attractive to the new generation. We need a cultural change.  It starts by recognising what is important.  Education is vital to all our endeavors.  The primary motivating factor for all professionals is the opportunity to grow.  We also need to be valued and enjoy celebration and recognition at work. The people who will benefit the most, are the patients because this is the return on investment and the obvious value proposition”