Royal College honours top surgical trainee 

27 Nov 2023

A general surgery trainee at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital has been awarded the Teasdale Medal from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. 

Erin McIlveen received the award for excellence in the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) General Surgery exam at a Diploma Ceremony on Thursday (23 November). 

The award is named after Professor Sir Graham Teasdale, a past President of the College who co-developed the internationally-renowned Glasgow Coma Scale with Professor Bryan Jennett as a way to communicate about the level of consciousness of patients with acute brain injuries. 

The medal is awarded for the highest score in section two of the General Surgery Intercollegiate Board Exam by a candidate from the Glasgow-based College. This exam is the final hurdle in the long and complex path for General Surgery trainees. 

Presenting the award, College President, Mike McKirdy, said: “It is a great honour to present Erin with the Teasdale Medal today. Having known her early on in her surgical training, this is very well-deserved. I have no doubt that this is only the beginning of a brilliant career as a consultant and her outstanding achievement in the FRCS exam is a testament to her hard work, knowledge and ability.”   

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow is the UK’s only multidisciplinary Royal College, with almost 16,000 members in the UK and around the world. 

Reflecting on the award, Miss McIlveen said: “This award was totally unexpected as there are so many other talented trainees. It is a great achievement which I am proud of!  

“I really like the Glasgow College because it is multi-disciplinary and this gives everyone the opportunity to become familiar with a diverse range of specialties, as well as your own specialty. I have been part of the college since I was a foundation doctor and it has provided me with a wide range of courses to boost my professional career over the last 14 years, for which I am very grateful.” 

Ms McIlveen is specialising in colorectal surgery at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. After gaining her medical degree at the University of Glasgow, she continued her training in the West of Scotland, completing both the MRCS and FRCS with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. She also holds an MD and PgCert Health Professionals Education from the University of Glasgow and has an MSc from the University of Edinburgh. 

During the Diploma Ceremony, the College also celebrated the achievements of surgeons, physicians, dentists, and podiatric medical professionals following many years of hard work. 

Category: College