Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, a centre of excellence for surgical education and research traces its origins to 1505 when the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh was formally incorporated as a Craft Guild of Edinburgh, and granted a royal charter in 1506 by King James IV of Scotland. HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is the current Patron of the College.

At the beginning of the 21st Century, the College has over 17,000 Fellows and Members, only half of whom live in the British Isles. Whatever their location, the Membership is concerned to fulfil the prime purpose of the College. Quite simply this is the maintenance and promotion of the highest standards of surgical practice and surgical training. Until very recently, the College has been concerned almost entirely with the setting of standards and the conduct of examinations designed to ensure that these standards are being maintained. Today the College is increasingly concerned with the provision of surgical education and training in addition to maintaining and enhancing its historic role. Dr Helen Dingwall has published a new History of the College "Famous and Flourishing".