The Anatomy of Complications Workshop - Taylor-Hammond Research Scholarship


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Development and philosophy of the Taylor‑Hammond Research Scholarship.

The Taylor‑Hammond Research Scholarship was established in July 2005 to assist a young researcher in Australia or New Zealand to undertake a project to increase the knowledge and understanding of a particular aspect of obstetric or gynaecological practice. The conveners of the Anatomy of Complications Workshop, Mr John Taylor and Professor Ian Hammond, have established this scholarship using funds derived from it’s success, The scholarship is to be offered annually with a stipend of $15,000. The successful ‘scholarship awardee’ will be a Member or Fellow of the RANZCOG of less than 5 years standing and reside in Australia or New Zealand. Selection of projects and administration of the scholarship will be undertaken by the RANZCOG Research Foundation. A brief description of the philosophy and ethos of the workshop is given below.

In October 2000, Mr John Taylor (Urological Surgeon and Urogynaecologist) and Professor Ian Hammond (Gynaecological Oncologist), both Fellows of the College, convened the first Anatomy of Complications Workshop (ACW) in Perth. Since then, they have run 32 two-day workshops (including 2 in Hong Kong) with 364 participants including 316 specialists and trainees in O&G and 48 Australasian urology trainees. The structure and goals of this workshop are available at www.acworkshop.com The main aim of the ACW is to improve obstetricians’ skills, performance and knowledge particularly in the prevention and management of complications of O&G surgery. The workshop is continuously evolving in regard to procedures learned, research, peer reviewed journal publications, educational projects and evaluation of these activities.

The workshop was established as a ‘not for profit ‘ educational activity, so that neither the conveners nor the facilitators would receive any remuneration and that any funds generated from workshop fees and sponsorship (after costs) would be used for education, workshop development, equipment and research. To date, audiovisual and computer equipment has been purchased for use at the workshop and at the School of Anatomy and Human Biology at UWA. In collaboration with Professor Paul McMenamin, John and Ian have developed a surgically based anatomical wall chart based on the cadaveric prosections and dissections performed at the workshop, anticipating it will be of use to practicing gynaecologists.

The workshop has been generously supported by Tyco Healthcare, Cook Australia, Medical Defence Association (MDA) National, the Clinical Training and Education Centre and the Facility for Advanced Surgical Training at the University of Western Australia and King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women in Perth. This support, and the generosity of the facilitators, has led to the accrual of funds which are held in a specially created and designated account under the financial governance of the Women’s and Children’s Health Service (WCHS) in Western Australia. The scholarship is drawn from these funds under the supervision of the WCHS.

John and Ian believe that the success of their workshop is directly related to the enthusiasm of the participants and the generosity of their colleagues in O&G and other surgical disciplines. The facilitators, local and international, who give so freely of their time, expertise and knowledge, are drawn from the disciplines of gynaecology, gynaecological oncology, urology, general surgery, neurosurgery, colorectal, vascular and plastic surgery. Safe gynaecological surgery may require the input of many diverse surgical specialties. Without this support for the goals and philosophy of the workshop it could not have achieved the success it has.

John Taylor and Ian Hammond consider that the Taylor-Hammond Research Scholarship reflects and gives a tangible face to the significant contribution of the participants, facilitators and sponsors who have made possible the anatomy of complications workshop, which is now entering it’s sixth year of educational activity. They believe that the establishment of this scholarship allows them to recognise the efforts of all those people who have given them the opportunity to teach and learn in such a supportive and creative environment.