Application form

In general, most application form for all the specialties are similar. ACF application form consisted of
1. Listing academic achievements
2. Courses
3. A brief paragraph on audits.
4. Brief paragraph on teaching experience.
5. Brief description about my research projects, and then the next question asked to write in detail about one of the mentioned research projects.
6. Brief description about why I wanted an academic job.
7. Brief paragraph on my commitment to the specialty I am applying for.
8. Extracurricular activities


However, in my interview, I was asked to talk I'm detail about my academic achievements, research projects, and my interest in academia. There is not much emphasis on audits, however it is advisable to have one completed cycle as it is essential to be shortlisted for an interview.

I was lucky enough to have worked in a reputable hospital during my F1 year and with my interest in surgery and research, I was able to undertake a few research projects. Although it was very hard work, during my F1 year I was able to successfully pass MRCS part A exam, nationally present my research project as first author, as well as publish 3 papers (2as first author, and the second as 2nd author). Furthermore, I am in the process of writing 2 further papers for publication.

My advice for aspiring surgeons and academics would be to start early. It requires a lot of hard work, but show your enthusiasm to the consultants in your hospitals, and you will have opportunities to undertake useful projects which will help boost your CV to be successful in your choice of job.

Next post will be about setting up portfolios in preparation for interviews.

Contact me by email iwanttobeasurgeon@gmail.com for further information, or via this blog, and I will aim to answer any queries as soon as I can.

Romesh

Core surgery recruitment and Academic Clinical Fellowship

With the interviews for core surgical training underway, there's a lot of tension at work place.

Having secured an academic clinical fellowship, I have the luxury of sitting back and enjoying the rest of my foundation year 2 training. Sadly I'm not particularly enjoying the care of elderly attachmet as most involves countless paperwork and a lot of babysitting patients while they wait for nursing/residential home placement.

So what is academic clinical fellowship? Many have asked me this and it's surprising how little people know of such oppurtunity.

It is essentially a specialty training programme with protected time for research. Most candidates will spend the first 3 years doing a pre-pilot research with the aim of applying for an externally funded pHd or an MD. On completion of the pHd/MD the candidates will slot back into higher specialty training. It is essentially a run through training in which all candidates entering ST1 training is almost guaranteed a CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training).

Now you may think, then why don't many people apply for it?
The same reason I mentioned above; not many are aware of such opportunities, and it is also only suitable for those who are interested in research and academia. Competition is fierce with less than 10 ACF in surgery available in the whole of UK at ST1 or ST2 level.

My next blog will be about how to prepare your portfolio for ACF/ core surgery, how to fill out applications, and how to utilise the time to get the most out of foundation training.

Stay tuned.
Romesh

HAPPY 2011

Happy New Year to everyone, and hoping 2011 will bring all your wishes true. I am quite sad to be leaving 2010 behind, as it has been a successful year for me. Ranging from a successful research project which i presented at a national conference (BSET) on the use of iliac conduits on ameurysm repairs, passing the MRCS examination, as well as successfully obtaining an academic run-through fellowship in general/vascular surgery.

2010 has been a busy year, but has been very fruitful. I am looking forward to starting my surgical training in August 2011, and I am still in shock that my next job interview will be for a consultancy post. :o.

In the coming weeks I will be updating the blog/website regularly, so stay tuned.

Romesh