About us

This quality educational resource will be accessible on virtual learning environments (VLEs) supported by the University of Edinburgh. The courses will cover key pillars of surgical writing, editing, publishing and evidence based surgical practice.

They will provide surgeons in training and independent practice with the tools to:

Prepare a quality manuscript for publication.
Critically appraise a manuscript submitted for consideration for publication in a surgical journal.
Develop the skills and experience to ensure surgical practice is undertaken with a clear understanding of best surgical practice in publishing.

For more information please contact: infosurgicalwriting@ed.ac.uk or visit the website.

Manuscript to publication

The credit from our part-time online surgical courses can be accumulated and contribute towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Surgical Writing and Evidence Based Surgical Practice which will commence in September 2024.

Writing in Surgery - launched September 2024

10 credits

This course will enable students to construct a surgical paper and understand the fundamentals of publishing an article. A variety of activities will be employed to suit different learning styles and encourage an engaged, interactive and collaborative group of students who will be able to participate and contribute in a flexible manner.

Reviewing the Evidence Base in Surgery - launching January 2025

10 credits

This course will allow you to take your surgical writing skills to the next level.
Supported by experienced tutors from the University of Edinburgh and the editorial team supporting the two journals (BJS and BJS Open) of the BJS Foundation, you will be guided to formulate a surgical research question and undertake an in-depth critical review of the evidence base, as a starting point to a research project.

Editing in Surgery - launching January 2025

20 credits

Optimise your chances of having a paper published in a surgical journal.
Supported by experienced tutors from the University of Edinburgh and the editorial team supporting the two journals (BJS and BJS Open) of the BJS Foundation, you will be guided through the skills required to develop a deep understanding of peer review and editing.

Evidence Based Surgery - launching April 2025

The package of four courses will arm you with skills that enable you to write a paper and optimise publication strategies through understanding how to develop research questions, the principles of trial design and data analysis, and the editorial process.

Postgraduate Certificate in Surgical Writing and Evidence Based Surgical Practice - launched September 2024

The Writing in Surgery (launched September 2024), Reviewing the Evidence Base in Surgery (launching January 2025), Editing in Surgery (launching January 2025) and Evidence Based Surgery (launching April 2025) courses together provide you with the opportunity to secure a 60 credit Postgraduate Certificate qualification.

For more information please visit the website.

Course and support programme

Mr Martyn Evans

Course Lead and Editor, BJS

Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery, Swansea University

Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

Dr Susan Morrow

Programme Director

Susan is Programme Director for the PgCert in Surgical Writing and Evidence Based Surgery and Quality Assurance Director for the Deanery of Clinical Sciences.

She has a research, clinical and educational background with a BSc in Pharmacology, a PhD in Molecular Biology, a Batchelor of Midwifery and a Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice.

Susan is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.

Jennifer Liedtke

Postgraduate Programme Administrator

Jennifer Liedtke joined the team in 2024 as the programme administrator. Jennifer has been working for the University of Edinburgh as a programme administrator since 2020. She has a vast knowledge of the University systems and student experiences and can offer advice and guidance to students relating to the courses they are enrolled on and any other administrative matters. Jennifer works closely with the Programme Director and helps with the smooth running of each course .

Professor O James Garden

Professor Emeritus

Professor Garden was appointed as Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in October 1988, to a Personal Chair in Hepatobiliary Surgery in 1997 and the Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery in 2000. He served as Dean International, Global Community from 2016 until 2021. He stood down as Director of Edinburgh Surgery Online in September 2022 and as Programme Director of PgCert Programme Surgical Writing and Evidence Based Practice in August 2024.

For more information visit here

BJS Foundation and the University of Edinburgh

The collaboration between the Foundation and the University of Edinburgh underpins the Academy’s mission to provide an accessible hub to support the professional development of surgeons worldwide.

The Foundation’s strategic partners can access academic opportunities provided by the Institute, as well as bursaries to offset course fees.

Edinburgh Surgery Online

In 2007, Edinburgh Surgery Online launched its first online masters programme. The pioneering three-year MSc in Surgical Sciences was established to support professional and academic development in the early years of surgical training. It was recognised for its innovation and excellence by the Queen’s Anniversary Award for Higher and Further Education in 2013.

The successful launch of a two- year ChM in General Surgery in September 2011 to support advanced surgical trainees was soon followed by ChM’s in Urology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, as well as Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.An MSc in Primary Care Ophthalmology and ChM in Clinical Ophthalmology were developed to support optometrists, other allied health care professionals and ophthalmologists in training.The most recent MSc in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors launched in 2018, recruiting a wide range of graduate health care professionals.

The highly popular programmes have enrolled over 500 students each year.A total of 2, 423 students from 76 countries have registered across the eight online masters programmes, which have seen over 1000 students and trainee surgeons graduate.Global outreach has increased considerably in recent years and is now underpinned by a large scholarship programme.In 2021 this provided full funding to 70 postgraduate students in low - and middle - income countries.