Dozens of guidance documents have been published specific to developing the SAS workforce. Examples include guidance on autonomous practice, leadership development, SAS as educators, mentorship, engaging and empowering, appraisal, to support SAS doctors and secure their development, later careers and retirement, wellbeing, acting up, private practice, revalidation, job planning. Here, we help you find the source of advice you’re looking for.
- Having become a Specialist Doctor in Plastic Surgery with an interest in skin cancer, Emily Newton-Dunn offers advice for SAS or locally employed doctors keen to get ahead within their unit, and how NHS organisations can support this. Emily’s Case study.
- A webinar hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons of England with Vinita Shekar, Speciality doctor and Arin Saha, Consultant surgeon, giving hints and tips for those starting in surgical practice.
Sarah Grimble became a SAS surgeon after a 17-year career break and has advice for surgeons considering a career break or returning after one, as well as advice for medical leaders on how they can support this. Sarah’s case study.
Resources:
- NHS advice for doctors returning to work after a period away
- BMA guidance on returning to clinical practice after absence
- Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) Return to Practice Guidance
- Royal College of Surgeons of England advice on changing or returning to practice – the College advocates mentoring at all stages of a surgeon’s education and throughout their career
- ‘Returning to surgical training from parental leave’. The Bulletin. Vol 104, Issue 8, Nov 2022, pp400-404
- Health Education England (HEE) Supported Return to Training Programme (SuppoRTT) to help trainees based in England when returning to training
- GMC guidance on changing your status on the register, including restoring your licence to practise
Fuad Abid, Amol Pandit and Sujatha Udayasankar all have advice for any SAS and locally employed doctors keen to develop as leaders – including representing your peers at a departmental level, developing allies, and voicing matters of collective concern.
Dr Tracy Tinklin, Medical Director of Medical Education at the trust where Fuad works, says, “It’s really important to encourage SAS doctors to take on these additional roles, to extend their experience and keep them interested and motivated.”
Sujatha participated in an aspiring medical leaders’ programme run by her Health Board, where 70% of participants have gone on to different types of leadership roles.
Fuad Abid’s case study.
Amol Pandit’s case study.
Sujatha Udayasankar’s case study.
Jamie Read advises SAS doctors wishing to pursue leadership roles not to limit themselves and to champion the diversity of experiences. Find out more.
AoMRC (2020) Leadership development for SAS doctors and dentists: Academy promotes greater SAS involvement in medical leadership
Find out how Jamie Read become the first SAS medical school Dean.
Raj Nirula shares his story of becoming the Lead Associate Dean for SAS doctors for the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans.
Fuad Abid started in medical education as a SAS Tutor before becoming an Associate Postgraduate Dean for SAS doctors for Health Education England (now part of NHS England).
Laura Hipple’s Medical Directorate Development Facility comprises a SAS Lead, CESR Lead, LED Tutor and International Medical Graduate Tutor, all with the aim of supporting SAS and locally employed doctors and identifying opportunities for their progression.
AoMRC (2022) SAS as educators: SAS as educators should be the norm rather than the exception
AoMRC (2020) Leadership development for SAS doctors and dentists: Academy promotes greater SAS involvement in medical leadership
Amol Pandit came to Wales from India “by accident” and 30 years later, he is a committed advocate for international medical graduates and for racial equality.
Raj Nirula also settled in Wales, having undertaken surgical training in India. He has advice for SAS doctors on confronting bullying and harassment.
“The key thing a SAS doctor needs is to be in an environment that can help them to evolve and progress”, says Husam Ebeid, who came to the UK as an internal medical graduate from Cairo and experienced a range of trust cultures as he worked towards achieving CESR.
Laura Hipple’s trust has a Medical Directorate Development Facility, with a SAS Lead role that is similar to that of a SAS Advocate but also extends to contractual issues, such as job planning and pay progression.
Husam Ebeid created his own training pathway and was supported by his trust to get on the specialist register and secure a substantive consultant job. Find out his advice for SAS or locally employed doctors wanting to apply for CESR.
Simon Steddon, Chief Medical Officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’ – Husam’s Trust – shares his advice for medical leaders on how best to support SAS and locally employed doctors. Husam Ebeid’s case study.
AoMRC (2022) SAS workforce and mentorship SAS doctors/dentists should be offered improved opportunities to act as mentors/mentees
Ishtiaq Aziz is a specialty doctor in vascular surgery, and research lead for SAS and registrars in the vascular department within his trust. See his advice for SAS doctors wanting to get involved in medical research and advice from his colleague, Professor Stather, Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia. Ishtiaq Aziz’s case study.
AoMRC (2020) SAS doctors/dentists and research
Hywel Dda University Health Board, Wales, set up a SAS Charter Steering Group to progress implementation of the SAS Charter for Wales. Sujatha Udayasankar’s case study.
The SAS Hub also has more information and resources on the SAS Charter.
Laura Hipple paves the way for other SAS, as the first SAS vice-president of a medical royal college. Learn more about her journey to this prestigious position.
If you would like to get involved with a specialty association, you may be interested to learn about Ibrahim Enemosah’s role with the Vascular Society.
Find out how the College is welcoming SAS surgeons into the organisation.
Any dentist wanting to join one of the General Dental Council (GDC) 13 specialist lists must complete specialist training to achieve a certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST). There is a non-CCST mediated entry route (equivalent to a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) in medicine), however this has been paused.
Jane Shearer joined the Specialist List in Oral Surgery via assessed application route and, having been an Associate Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) for almost two decades, is now a Consultant in Oral Surgery. Hesham Emam is a SAS surgeon in OMFS with a special interest in oral surgery. Find out the difference between these two pathways.
