The Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) is a registered charity working to promote excellence in surgical training. It represents over 2,000 surgical trainees from all nine surgical specialities at both regional and national levels in the United Kingdom.
Originally set up in 1976 as a forum for Senior Registrars to meet socially and discuss issues around training, ASiT has grown substantially and continues to fulfil those objectives. ASiT has a voice on the Councils of the Royal Surgical Colleges in the United Kingdom and the Specialist Advisory Committees, in addition to many other Department of Health and NHS groups. ASiT collects input from both training organizations and the trainees, and works to improve communications between these groups whilst promoting excellence in surgical training.
ASiT is independent to the Surgical Royal Colleges, and is run by trainees, for trainees. The ASiT committee are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting, held at the surgical conference.
ASiT organises a highly regarded annual two-day conference for surgical trainees with a range of pre-conference educational courses. Hosting nearly 500 delegates from across the UK, it is an opportunity to discuss surgical training and present current research. Recent conferences have been held in:
Research prizes awarded include the ASiT Medal, and the SARS/ASIT Academic & Research Surgery Prize, in addition to numerous surgical specialty prizes. The ASiT Lecture is presented by a keynote speaker at the annual conference, and the Gala Dinner party is the social focus for the weekend.