About SuRE
Why this course exists.
The problem
Trainees are told research matters. Then left to figure it out.
Most surgical trainees know research matters — for training applications, fellowships, consultant jobs, academic careers. But the practical gap between "do some research" and a finished abstract is large, and unsupported.
You need a question. A feasible project. A supervisor who'll engage. Enough understanding of methodology to avoid obvious mistakes. The ability to write and present clearly. And the discipline to actually finish.
SuRE is built around that gap. It is a foundation — not a shortcut, and not a guarantee. A launch pad.
Principles
What the course stands for.
Foundation over shortcut
We don't promise a publication. We give you the framework, vocabulary and judgement to start moving in the right direction.
Surgical, not generic
Surgical research has its own constraints — equipoise, learning curves, technical variability. The course treats it as its own discipline.
Science and art
Precision and method matter. So do curiosity, lateral thinking, and the craft of communicating results clearly.
Tenacity beats intelligence
Most successful trainee projects aren't the cleverest — they're the ones that actually finish. We design for completion.
Course director
Designed and taught by a surgeon.
A/Prof James LeePhD, FRACS
A/Professor James Lee is an academic endocrine surgeon with over 15 years of specialist experience and a strong track record in surgical research, training, and mentorship. After completing his medical degree at the University of Melbourne, he undertook advanced endocrine surgery fellowships in Melbourne and Sydney, followed by a PhD through the University of Sydney investigating microRNA biomarkers in papillary thyroid cancer.
He is currently a researcher within the Monash University School of Translational Medicine and has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and multiple book chapters spanning clinical outcomes and the molecular biology of endocrine cancers. His work has been widely presented at national and international meetings, reflecting a sustained contribution to surgical evidence and translational research.
A/Professor Lee is deeply involved in surgical education and research training. He serves as an examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and supervises higher degree research students, including PhD candidates. Through his mentorship, numerous trainees have successfully completed research projects, presented internationally, and received competitive research awards.
His combined experience in high-volume clinical practice, academic research, and structured mentorship underpins his role in teaching surgical research — focusing on helping trainees design feasible, high-quality projects that lead to meaningful outputs.