Ageing and health trainees scoop national awards

Two Specialist Registrars, from the Dundee Medicine for the Elderly service in Tayside Primary Care Trust (TPCT), have won national awards at two separate scientific meetings for their excellent research.

Dr Suzanne Burns, Specialist Registrar in Medicine for the Elderly, TPCT, has been awarded the Norman-Exton Smith prize for the best presentation at the recent British Geriatrics Society scientific meeting in London. The work she presented was on behalf of Mr Afshin Alijani and colleagues in the Department of Surgery and also colleagues in the Section of Ageing and Health. The research focused on the validation of a tool to assess the appropriateness of bed occupancy on surgical wards, a priority topic for the NHS given the ongoing national problems surrounding delayed discharges from hospital.

Dr Dougie Lowdon (specialist registrar) has also been honoured with the Kate Johnstone prize for the best presentation at the BGS Scotland meeting in Ayr. His interest is targeted at improving the uptake of warfarin therapy for older people with atrial fibrillation.

On hearing of the awards Professor McMurdo commented, "This is marvellous news - a resounding tribute to the calibre and dedication of junior doctors who chose to train in Dundee. It is very encouraging that our trainees are making a key contribution to the high quality research of the Section of Ageing and Health."