Author Information
An Ode ( to the breast faculty Royal College of Surgeons England)
Past the park, in the clearing
Stood the RCS’ Majestic Building
I walked through the great hall
Portraits of great surgeons adorned the wall
My heart skipped more than a beat
In their company, who had mastered many a feat
The stairs wound their way to the top
Hill seminar room my final stop
A formal introduction, after the initial hellos and Hi’s
Marked the beginning of futures ties
The faculty, helpful and kind
Made sure the participants used their mind
No one felt left out or ignored
As facts and figures from everywhere poured
Bit by bit we were taken through
Anatomy, pathology to name a few
The day wore on, interactive workshops and discussions
Excellent topics, marvellous photographic presentations
We shared ideas and laughed on a witty comment or two
In an atmosphere conjured by minds dedicated and true
The message being loud and clear
Those we treat are humans they harbour fear
They have their uncertainties their desire
We as surgeons should be supportive and never tire
Breast, Epitome of womanhood, purity and enigmatic
Its maladies, benign or malignant, are all traumatic
From Halstead to present we have travelled far
Mastectomy alone is no more, Oncoplastics has come at par
Reconstruction is dedication, divine in a way
Restoring what nature bestowed, misfortune took away
Improving not only to please the eye
But help lifting their spirit to the sky
It was an exhilarating experience all in all
In that two day workshop last fall
All that I learnt in my heart I hold
After all we are bosom friends, wrapped in the mammary fold.
Dr Shehzad Latif
14th Dec 2004
