Young Investigator Award 2020

We are delighted to say that Ms Katie Hoban (Trauma and Orthopaedic Trainee in the East of Scotland Deanery) has won the Young Investigator Award at this year’s British Orthopaedic Oncology Society (BOOS) Conference which this year took place remotely on Friday 13 November 2020.

Katie’s award-winning research project was titled ‘Mirels’ bony metastasis score: is it valid for upper limb metastasis?’ and was supervised by Mrs Samantha Downie (Senior Trainee, Orthopaedics, NHS Tayside) and by Mr Arpit Jariwala (Consultant Upper Limb & Trauma Surgeon, NHS Tayside & UDOTS Director).

Katie completed her medical training at the University of Edinburgh (2017), having previously done an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience (2012). Whilst completing her post-graduate examinations and progressing as a surgeon, Katie has maintained her interest in research, most recently completing a Masters in Surgical Sciences (2020). Having now entered the field of Orthopaedics, her focus has shifted to research in upper limb bony metastasis and how management in clinical practice can be enhanced using scoring systems to predict pathological fractures. In the current Covid-19 climate, Katie is also exploring whether there has been a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of bony metastasis and investigating a potential PhD in UDOTS.

The remotely held BOOS 2020 offered expert keynote sessions as well as free talks from abstract submitters, highlighting innovative developments in the field of orthopaedic oncology. The conference is open to all professionals in all aspects of orthopaedic oncology, including basic science and clinical aspects of metastatic bone disease, and primary bone or soft tissue tumours.

Mr Jariwala stated:

“I’d like to congratulate Katie on her success. She has produced a great piece of academic research despite all the disruptions caused bt the COVID-19 pandemic and whilst working full-time as a registrar in a very busy Major Trauma Centre in Ninewells Hospital. We are in the process of submitting this research work for publication in a high-end peer-reviewed journal.

I’d like to also hugely thank our Senior Orthopaedic Trainee, Samantha Downie, who assisted Katie with her research. Samantha is currently undertaking a PhD in metastatic bone disease and hopes to pursue an academic career in orthopaedic oncology.

This is an amazing achievement both for Tayside and UDOTS and an excellent example of successful collaborative work between NHS Tayside Orthopaedic Department and UDOTS. I am hoping this great news is only the initial harbinger of many more such successful events to come.