Suspense, Sepsis, Sushi & Surgical Stars

Under a moonless sky, the stars weren’t just in the heavens—they were in our auditorium. Seven of our brightest surgical registrars took the stage for the mid-year Northern Surgical Registrars Prize Night, dazzling us with real-life medical mysteries, surgical showdowns, and a side of sushi (thanks to our generous sponsor, Bard).

This tradition, started by Prof Hamish Ewing, gives registrars just 10 minutes to present a fascinating case. Our two judges, Dr Ben Keong and Dr Kim Jeffs, watched closely, as our timekeepers, Dr Azhar Auckloo and Dr Betty Lai, kept things sharp and snappy.

Here’s how the night unfolded:

• Dr Rumana Islam kicked things off with a twist: a patient thought to have a common bowel issue turned out to have endometriosis—a condition where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows elsewhere. Surprise diagnosis!
• Dr Simon Bennet brought suspense with two back-to-back cases of rare stomach tumors (GISTs) that suddenly burst—on consecutive days!
• Dr Khadijah Ahmed had us on edge with a post-surgery infection mystery. Her warning? If it happens again, the whole department gets swabbed (and not the gentle kind). Her dramatic flair earned her third place.
• Dr Naya Masood shared a nerve-wracking case where a device meant for veins accidentally ended up in an artery—potentially dangerous. She showed how ultrasound can help avoid this mistake.
• Dr Angus Hann wowed us with a breast surgery technique that preserves tissue using a clever flap of skin and fat. His artistic presentation and video demo earned him second place.
• Dr Jordan Lee showcased a high-stakes liver and pancreas surgery for a rare tumor—like something out of a surgical thriller.
• Dr Abid Khan wrapped up the night with a case that seemed simple—appendicitis in a young adult—but turned out to be another rare tumor. His interactive style and suspenseful storytelling won him the top prize.

A huge congratulations to our seven stars, who shine every day in the Northern surgical team. Thank you to our judges, our sponsors (Sam Fawad from Beckton Dickinson), our time-keepers and our audience.

The next Surgical Registrars Prize Night is on 18 December. Come for the cases, stay for the sushi—and maybe a few surprises.

Pictured above, Dr Abid Khan receiving his prize from the judges.