We can train them, but how can we retain them?

To the Editor: The Department of Surgery at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine is proud of its 100% pass rate in the October 2008 Colleges of Medicine of South Africa examinations held in Durban. Most candidates attended the graduation and joined the 3 who passed in May as registered specialists in general surgery. This represents a stalwart effort on the part of the candidates and their tutors, the consultants in the department. Professor Robbs, in his retirement year, was justly proud of this achievement and honoured that our candidates asked him to robe them at the graduation ceremony.