Medical Officer Training Programs

The Trauma & Acute Care Surgery (TACS) Unit runs several training programs which includes Fellows, Surgical Trainees, Junior Medical Officers and Medical Student training

Fellows

The Trauma & Acute Care Surgery (TACS) Unit at Liverpool Hospital appoints two Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Fellows each year on a 12-24 month contract.
For information about the position please contact, via email, the Director of TACS, Dr Valerie Malka, valerie.malka@health.nsw.gov.au
Click here to view the Fellow Position Description

General Surgical Trainees

Accredited Surgical Education & Training (SET) Trainees
TACS is an approved RACS training position for two SET (including GSET) registrars.

Please click here for information about RACS’ Surgical Education & Training Program

Unaccredited General Surgical Registrars and SRMOs
Liverpool Hospital employs eight unaccredited registrar and two Senior Resident Medical Officers positions each year to General Surgery as part of the NSW Health “bulk recruitment” process. Two Unaccredited trainees are allocated to the TACS Unit on a 3 month rotation.

Junior Medical Officers (Interns and Residents)

Junior Medical Officers are allocated to Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Unit (TACS) on a 10 week or 11 week rotation. JMOs are rostered to cover either of the clinical units (Acute Surgery Unit and Trauma) as well as JETS (JMO Evening Team Staffing) every 1-3 weeks.

TACS Term Description for PGY1 & PGY2

Medical Students

Student Clinical Placement

Students from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) rated the Liverpool Hospital Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Unit student clinical placement as one of the best.

The clinical experience that students will get whilst working in the department will be one that will give them the fundamentals of trauma care and emergency surgery. We encourage our students to consider themselves as part of the team and they have full access to being part of the clinical journey for our patients. This ensures they are involved with all aspects of trauma and emergency general surgery care and gives students the opportunity to work with other specialties and departments such as: Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Cardiothoracic, Plastic, Vascular, Urology, Radiology, the Emergency Department, Operating Theatres and the Intensive Care Unit. Our unit provides an excellent opportunity for an immersive and unlimited hands on experience in a busy teaching hospital whilst being supported by clinicians, nursing and allied health staff.

A detailed Placement Program including term expectations and TACS Orientation Handbook are sent to students one week prior to term commencement.

Clerkship Program (Elective) in Trauma

A comprehensive service and a structured approach is provided to all students. In conjunction with the UNSW, Kensington office, we have to formally approve your visit and the following criteria must be met.

Criteria:

  1. The minimum length of attachment is 4 weeks and the maximum length is 8 weeks.
  2. You must be in your final year of a medical degree, with at least two years of clinical experience at the time of your participation in the Clerkship.
  3. You must apply at least three months (but no more than 12 months) in advance of your requested Clerkship dates.
  4. You must seek approval from Unit Director and the Ethics Committees if research projects are to be undertaken.

If you wish to spend your elective in the Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Unit at Liverpool Hospital, you will be made very welcome, however, we do expect students to be present and to participate 100% in the activities of the Unit.

More information about the UNSW Clerkship Program can be found here.

Dr Valerie Malka is the Director of the Trauma and Acute Care Surgical Unit at Liverpool Hospital. She was the previous Director of Trauma Services at Westmead Hospital for over a decade. She is an EMST Director and DSTC Instructor with a great passion for trauma and acute care surgery. With special interests in education and quality assurance she has worked extensively in patient safety and the maintenance of ethics in healthcare. Valerie has worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Rescue Committee and holds a Diploma in International Humanitarian Assistance from Geneva University and a Master’s Degree in International Public Health with a major in Humanitarian Law. She also holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and works freelance writing medical, health and wellbeing articles.