What’s your name and age?
Allan Aim, 34.
Where do you come from?
Estonia.
How long have you been an EHS member?
Since 2023.
Describe a day at work as a surgeon in your country:
I start usually at around 7.30 to see patients and have a plan about the upcoming day for the morning rounds. I end either when there’s no work left to do, my theatre list or outpatient clinic is finished or the next day with ending the on call shift.
What is your favourite AWR procedure/hernia surgery?
eTEP/PeTEP on unusual/complicated hernias.
Why is it your favourite procedure?
ETEP navigating around/past previous incisions.
Who inspired you to become a hernia enthusiast/surgeon?
I was offered to start doing bariatric and hernia surgery when I started work at my unit in 2021 as there was a need for it and also I was exposed to AWR and bariatric surgery during residency.
Please, give a small tip or trick to share for this or any other hernia procedure?
Don’t hesitate to use laparoscopy even in seemingly impossible cases for MIS. Even if you don’t do all of the surgery minimally invasively, you’ll at least learn and get experience and still can make the surgery less invasive.
Have you attended an EHS congress, meeting, or course?
EHS congresses in Prague and Paris, monothematic congress in Vilnius. Advanced OPEN cadaver course.
Which made the biggest impression on you?
Monothematic congress in Vilnius.
What made it great?
Feeling the welcoming nature of the EHS hernia community and becoming connected with it.
How can the EHS help you in the future?
Continue to build the community and have all the opportunities for growth and collaboration between people.
What is your dream for the future of hernia surgery?
Getting my units hernia service running according to my goals and standard, evolving concomitantly with the most state of the art principles in hernia surgery.