A Surgeon's Lifetime: Evolution in General Surgery 1959-2001

'See one, do one, teach one' was the basis of David Watkin's training as a surgeon in the 1960s. By the time he became a consultant, he had ample experience but had received little supervision. He was determined to improve the experience for his juniors. Later, this led to chairmanship of the national committee responsible for training in general surgery.

Not from a medical family and with no experience of serious illness or hospital, David had only decided to study medicine when in the sixt...