EHS Train the trainer course: Interview with Dr. Jurij Gorjanc

This two-day programme focused on enhancing mentorship and educational skills, with key topics including effective communication, dynamic mentoring, and tailored trainee guidance. The course incorporated workshops, process analyses, and simulation-based training.

To explore the course’s impact, we spoke with Dr. Jurij Gorjanc, an experienced surgeon and mentor. Read below to hear his reflections on the experience:

1. Can you share a bit about your professional background as a surgeon and your involvement with EHS?

Born in a medical family (father surgeon and mother dentist, three brothers, all in medicine) I always felt privileged. I received so much knowledge in my primary family and later through my medical teachers – this is one of the reasons why I am willing to give expertise and experience to young colleagues.

I worked for 12 years in Slovenia, then moved to Austria, and I have been leading the Slovenian Hernia Society for 15 years. Through the Slovenian National Hernia Society (www.hernia.si) I was always in contact with EHS and its surgical experts as I organised 10 surgical symposia and even more workshops with international participation.

Now I’m working at the Central Clinic of Klagenfurt and cooperate tightly with the Austrian Hernia Society. In Klagenfurt, Carinthia, besides good surgery, including robotics, one of my main tasks as assistant professor and consultant surgeon is mentorship – sharing knowledge with younger colleagues.

2. How do you see your role as a mentor or trainer impacting the next generation of surgeons in hernia repair?

Although sharing knowledge through congresses, symposia, workshops etc. is very valuable and I do it, I personally see one-to-one teaching of surgical skills as the best way. This year I am mentoring one young resident who will soon be able to perform 4 basic hernia surgical techniques (Lichtenstein, Shouldice, TAPP, Sublay) independently. I do the same individual mentoring (or shadowing) on my yearly humanitarian missions to Africa in the organisation of Hernia International.

3. Did you find any specific methods or strategies from the course particularly effective in enhancing your mentoring/trainer skills?

Yes, a mentor must impress and convince and course leader Jean Pierre Henry is not only skilled with words, but you can feel that his presentation has a strong background in his basic responsibility of being active as a fighter jet pilot. He is a person you can believe. In the same way, we surgeons have to be convincing when we teach. First of all, by example, by action, and then by words.

4. Has the course influenced your approach to teaching and mentoring and can you tell how?

I will be much more attentive in listening and observing my surgical residents. They do not always need what I think they need so a good mentor should recognise in which way to lead someone through the process of acquiring skills, knowledge and expertise. Teaching is a responsible task.

5. How do you think the course contributes to the overall vision and goals of the EHS Education and courses?

I cannot remember any other surgical society that pays so much attention to teaching younger colleagues as EHS. Normally, the residents are left to fend for him/herself and no one is actively involved in their progress. It is true, that basic motivation should come from the candidates, but this motivational energy should meet the readiness of good mentors for sharing knowledge. So, this vision and goal of EHS is extraordinary.

6. In your opinion, how can EHS initiatives like this course strengthen the quality and consistency of hernia surgery training across Europe?

First, it can support the greed of knowledge in hernia surgery in surgical residents and show them that EHS wants them to be better. On the other hand, this initiative can start educating mentors who will meet the expectations of younger colleagues.