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The Indian Uncle

In surgical training, skill isn’t enough. You need someone in your corner. My “Indian Uncle” spoke little—but protected me, built my confidence, and taught me the quiet power of trust and loyalty.

Forgotten

Months after CCT, I found myself unemployed, filling out forms and applying for locums while the system moved on without me. When the operating stops, a surgeon must ask a difficult question: who am I now?

Outcome 3

Outcome 3. A moment when your career feels like it might collapse. Rumours spread, confidence disappears, and the system closes in. Sometimes survival requires finding another way forward.

Being Called Stupid in Theatre

Thirty-two years old. Exams passed. Years of training behind me. Yet in theatre a consultant called me “stupid.” In surgery, hierarchy is real — and sometimes the hardest lesson is knowing when to hold your ground.

The moment I became better at surgery

One month into being a consultant, grief replaced fear. Faced with a brutally complex case, the fog lifted. In that moment I stopped worrying about judgement and started operating with purpose.

Orthom8 newsletter #6

👋🏾 Welcome to this edition of the Orthom8 newsletter. My name is Harry Benjamin-Laing and I'm the founder of Orthom8. I'm very pleased that you have taken the time to sign up to the membership. I look forward to getting to know you all, interacting and hopefully

The Long Game

At 13 miles I reached the edge of my experience. Everything beyond that point was unknown. The lesson I learnt there would carry me through surgery and life.

Shadow of my father

In a crowded clinic waiting room, a stranger spoke my father’s name. Legacy is not loud — it is a quiet reminder of who you are.

Teamwork

Teamwork isn’t slogans or shared credit. It’s stepping beyond titles when it matters. This is what real surgical collaboration looks like.

The Last Smack

I was four years old when I realised I could not control everything — but I could control myself. The last smack became the first lesson in resilience.

The first cut

Mentorship is rarely announced — it is earned quietly. One theatre list, one opportunity, and a lesson about hierarchy and preparation that never left me.

The motorway lesson

I couldn’t master the clutch — until the pressure increased. Sometimes performance sharpens not when things slow down, but when they speed up.