MCh (Orth) Ian Smillie Award 2021

Dr Benjamin Alex was presented with the University Department of Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery’s 2020-2021 Ian Smillie Class Award of Distinction from Mr Arpit Jariwala (UDOTS and MCh Orth programme Director), who himself was the recipient of this prestigious award in 2003. This prize is awarded annually to the Master of Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery (MCh Orth) degree student who has attained the highest overall mark for the year.

Dr Alex’s research project, “Investigating dissatisfaction in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients” was supervised by Mrs Linda Johnston (Clinical Audit Services Manager), Mr Rahul Kakar (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, NHS Tayside) and Mr Arpit Jariwala. Given the interesting findings from his research, he was invited to share the key points from his study at the Musculoskeletal Clinical Effectiveness Meeting at Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee on 19 August 2021.

Mr Arpit Jariwala commented:

“Dr Benjamin Alex is now the 25th recipient of this prestigious class award of distinction and has now joined a small but exclusive group of winners from amongst our graduates. Benjamin has shown a great understanding of how much dedication and work it takes to win the best overall student of the year. Many past recipients have gone on to achieve great things and I’m sure Benjamin will maintain this tradition. We all wish him, as we do all our students, every success with his onward medical career”.

Dr Benjamin Alex added:

“I would like to thank everyone who supported us throughout this difficult year. It is a great honour for me to receive this award. I have worked hard for it, but it wouldn’t have been possible without my batchmates, all the teachers who took classes for us and all the supporting staff who were always around to help us with our thesis or anything for that matter. All the topics were well organised and it has been a privilege to be here and meet all the wonderful people in Dundee and gain so much knowledge and culture.

I planned on coming to Dundee as COVID-19 was at its peak and as operating theatres were closed at my work. But I will cherish the moment that I decided to come here as it has changed my life, changed my perspective and allowed me to meet a lot of wonderful people here and make new friendships that I’m sure will last a lifetime.”

This class award of distinction is named after the late Professor Ian Smillie who was the founder of the Department of Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery at the University of Dundee in 1968. He gained a worldwide reputation in knee surgery and the role of the meniscus. In 2007 Professor Smillie was posthumously awarded the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) highest honour - entry to the ‘AOSSM Hall of Fame’ for his significant contributions to the speciality of Sports Medicine.