Trainees of David Nott Foundation Conference 2026

Join us in Birmingham for two days of high-impact humanitarian and trauma surgery education, featuring world-leading experts across surgery, O&G and anaesthetics. This will be a hybrid event, hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh at their Birmingham Regional Centre (The Walker Building, 58 Oxford Street, Birmingham B5 5NR), so you can attend in person or online.

Please ensure you select the correct tickets for the days that you can attend.

If you plan to attend both days, please ensure you book a ticket for each day.

Expect a packed programme of talks, hands-on workshops, small-group scenarios, networking and collaboration, all focused on delivering safe surgery in conflict and low-resource settings. The venue is a short walk from Birmingham New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill stations, and easily accessible by car with multiple city-centre car parks nearby. There are plenty of accommodation options within walking distance in and around Birmingham city centre.

We’ll also be hosting a Friday night drinks reception (with non-alcoholic options available), offering a relaxed opportunity to network with fellow delegates and faculty. Our full programme will be released soon, along with details of abstract and essay competitions for those keen to showcase their work.
This is a free event, generously funded by the David Nott Foundation and our sponsors, but we ask that you treat your ticket as something with real value. Please only register if you genuinely intend to attend. In-person tickets are strictly limited to 65 places due to workshop capacity and venue limits, and every no-show risks wasting a place that another trainee could have used. If you select an online (hybrid) ticket, you will be able to access the talks only (running throughout both days), and we strongly encourage UK-based delegates to attend in person wherever possible to get the full benefit of the hands-on workshops and networking. The hybrid element exists to enable meaningful participation from trainees around the world, not as a “back-up option” for those who could attend in person. We will send regular reminders to confirm attendance and are extremely grateful to everyone for being diligent in choosing the correct ticket type and updating us promptly if their plans change.

📝 TDNF Conference 2026 – Essay Competition Now Open

We’re excited to launch the Trainees of the David Nott Foundation Essay Competition 2026.

Essay title:

“In an increasingly politicised healthcare environment, to what extent can humanitarian NGOs remain effective while maintaining independence from governments?”

This question goes to the core of modern humanitarian and conflict-related health work. You might explore how political pressures affect access, funding and security; the tension between neutrality and advocacy; the role of local vs international NGOs; examples from conflict zones, disaster response or global surgery; or the ethics of speaking out versus staying “apolitical”. We’re looking for thoughtful, critical pieces that blend real-world examples with evidence and reflection.

• Open to doctors from any specialty at any stage of training (including foundation doctors)
• Consultants and medical students are not eligible

Entrants should be able to attend the TDNF Conference 2026 (either in person in Birmingham or online) as the winner will present their essay at the meeting.

• 🕔 Submission deadline:28th December 2025, 17:00 (UK time)
• 📏 Word limit: 2,000 words (excluding references)
• 📚 Referencing: Vancouver or Harvard style (please choose one and use it consistently)
• 📎 Format: Word document (.doc / .docx)
• ✉️ Submit to:
• 📨 Email subject line: “TDNF Essay Competition 2026”

To allow blind judging, please do not include your name or identifying details in the body of the essay. Include your full name, role (specialty and grade) and institution in the email (and, if you wish, on a separate cover page).

Essays will be anonymously reviewed by the TDNF Research Representatives. Submissions will be judged on:

• Relevance to the question and to humanitarian / conflict / low-resource healthcare
• Structure & clarity of argument
• Critical thinking & originality of ideas
• Use of evidence and examples (literature, guidelines, case experience)
• Balance – recognising complexity rather than a one-sided view
• Quality of writing (clear, concise, coherent)

📅 Results announced: 4th January 2026 (subject to change).

🏆 Winner receives:

• A certificate (national-level presentation)
• A prize
• An invitation to present their essay at the TDNF Conference 2026 in Birmingham

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