Saashi Ghaie

Hi everyone, I’m excited to run for the role of RTS Conference Chair alongside Beomsoo!

As a member of the iPRAS subcommittee, I’ve been involved in organising many of our events this year. Through this, I’ve learned what makes a conference successful and how to stand out in such a saturated conference space.

If elected, I would work with my co-chairs to centre the conference around the theme:

Reconstructing the Stereotype: Surgical Myths and Realities

The focus would be on challenging common assumptions surrounding surgical careers and training. From the belief that surgeons must sacrifice work-life balance, to the idea that surgery is inaccessible or purely technical, to the perception that plastics is only cosmetic. Speakers would include consultants and registrars across specialties who can offer honest insight into training pathways, academic surgery, subspecialisation, and the reality of building a surgical career today.

Workshops would be selected to challenge expectations and highlight the breadth of surgical practice. Examples could include microsurgical vessel anastomosis to demonstrate the technical precision of plastics beyond aesthetics, oncoplastic breast workshop to highlight the overlap between oncology and reconstructive surgery, and simulated decision-making scenarios to show how clinical judgement works alongside technical skill.

By combining transparency about training with advanced but accessible workshops, my aim would be to deliver a conference that feels relevant, forward-thinking, and informative.

I would love the opportunity to build on RTS’s strong foundation and take it to the next level