WFNS 2023 Neurosurgery World Congress Presenter

Hi everyone - I hope you are all well!

My name is Dr. Jack Wellington MBBCh (Hons) MSc (LSHTM) FGMS FRSA and I am an extremely eager individual who wants to pursue a career in academic neurosurgery. I have accepted an incredibly competitive Specialised/Academic Foundation Programme (SFP/AFP) at the Yorkshire and Humber Deanery, where I have secured both vascular surgery and neurosurgery posts.

Today, I am a junior doctor (academic FY1 to be precise), and here is my story to date.

Growing up as a small proud Welsh citizen, I have come from a very humble background. My mother, an accountant by trade, has been a beacon of solace during tough times, especially during medical school. I could not have completed our studies without my mother's tutelage, love, and care. For that, I am forever grateful. Medical school has been physically and emotionally taxing, where I experienced a plethora of 'ups' and 'downs' - however, has been the start of an adventure of a lifetime. My family and I have faced difficult times emotionally and financially, particularly during medical school and the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This has resorted to taking out a plethora of loans.

Funding for education is notorious - where I have had to take out loans to support my tuition fees and living expenses. These have not only helped my research and academic endeavors alongside my family in times of financial stress but also supported my physical health issues during medical school. One particular instance was when I took a year out of study to focus on my physical health - a very difficult time indeed.

But, my upbringing and circumstances never impeded my motivation to pursue a career in academic neurosurgery. During my interruption of study, despite recovering from surgery, I published approximately 10 journal publications and presented at national/international conferences. I graduated within the top 10% of his cohort, awarding honors status as a result. I intercalated at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for an MSc in Medical Microbiology and undertook my neurosurgical elective at the University of Oxford. These are just some of my achievements and extra qualifications.

Alongside my current duties, I dedicated plentiful time to my research endeavors through these roles which have facilitated experience in both clinical/surgical academia. I ascertained >50 publications concerning neurosurgical practice, topical global/public health issues, neurology, and neuropsychiatry. Also, I have undertaken 9 oral presentations and >30 poster presentations at national/international conferences alongside being a research advisor, editor, and writer in global committees dedicated to advancing clinical/surgical research advocacy.

Moreover, I have dedicated my spare time to improving medical and surgical education internationally, having guest lectured and providing tutelage to the next generation of aspiring surgeons and clinicians through national mentoring initiatives and widening access to pursuing careers in medicine. In addition to my extracurricular pursuits, I attained international fellowship status at the Guild of Musicians and Singers as an avid violinist, violist, pianist, and organist.

My future career goals are vast - I hope to attain a DTM&H for clinical practice globally and achieve a Ph.D. in Surgical Sciences (specializing in academic neurosurgery).

Having garnered an exceptionally prolific academic profile, I was appointed to a diverse range of leadership positions comprising the Royal Society of Medicine Student Section’s Academic Chair, the founding Walter E. Dandy Neurosurgical Society UK Student Club's Vice President, and the past president of the Cardiff University Research Society, among others. In particular, I was approached by Professor Saleem Abdulrauf, a world-renowned neurosurgeon and the founding chairman of the neurosurgery department at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, in the USA, who appointed me co-director of the Abdulrauf University of Neurosurgery Research Institute.

The professor is regarded as a pioneer in the neurosurgical discipline, describing extracranial to intracranial bypass surgery in the key reference textbook for brain bypass surgery, "Cerebral Revascularization," which he authored. Through our research endeavours, I was very honoured and privileged to announce that I, alongside the professor and fellow colleagues, have had confirmation of an abstract acceptance for ORAL PRESENTATION at the 18th international World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) 'World Congress of Neurosurgery' meeting in Cape Town, South Africa at the end of this year!

Being one of the biggest conferences for neurosurgery globally, I was so excited to be presenting in Cape Town. However, due to funds, I have had to rethink this prospect. I am currently working 2 jobs to fund travel, accommodation, and conference registration expenses alongside providing for my family. The conference registration summates to approximately £200, flights from UK to Cape Town £500-600, and accommodation £200-300.

To present at this conference could be a career changer for me and one closer step to becoming an academic neurosurgeon some day. I would greatly appreciate any support to make this dream come true.