A Surgeon Is Always a Student

The 15th EPO Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Workshop in Ipoh gave me the opportunity to refresh my knowledge, strengthen my skills in endoscopic sinus surgery, and learn practical techniques from experienced rhinology colleagues.

A small technical adjustment or a different approach to a familiar problem can change the way we think about surgery. That is the value of these workshops: no matter how experienced we become, there is always more to learn.

One other aspect I value most about workshops is the chance to reconnect with colleagues and meet ENT surgeons from around the world. It was a privilege to learn from the international faculty: Prof. Yvonne from Toronto, Canada; Prof. Omura from Tokyo, Japan; Dr PK from Chennai, India; Dr Minh from Hue, Vietnam; and Dr Soma from Singapore, together with many familiar faces from Malaysia.

Different countries, experiences, and surgical perspectives brought us together through a shared commitment to learning and improving patient care. The learning continued beyond the lectures. Conversations over meals and informal exchanges offered valuable insights, reminding me that some of the best ideas emerge when we listen to people who approach problems differently.

ENT may bring us together professionally, but collaboration and human connection make learning more meaningful.

If I take one message from these two days, it is this: The day we believe we have nothing more to learn is the day we stop growing.

Surgery is a lifelong process of learning, unlearning, refining, and evolving. Experience gives us confidence, but curiosity keeps us improving. We learn from teachers, colleagues, patients, and sometimes surgeons much younger than ourselves. Being a good surgeon isn’t simply about mastering a technique; it also requires the humility to recognise that another, better approach may exist.

The best surgeons never stop being students.

Signing off, Dr Jey