Building a resume for surgical training in the UK

Hello! I am an international student going into 2nd year of medicine soon and I want to think a bit about the kind of opportunities and activities I should engage in to be able to apply for surgical training later on. I would love to seek any advice on what I should be doing at this point to have enough plus points in my resume as a future surgical training applicant. Also would love any suggestions on what other things I should be doing throughout medical school to be considered an outstanding applicant for surgical training/post. Thank you!

Reply 1

Letournel

Go to theatre, decide that you actually want to do it. Find some mentors so that you can get regular access to theatre.

Criteria are pretty clear for getting in, though try not to hit the minimums:

https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/surgery/core-surgery/core-surgical-training-self-assessment-scoring-guidance-for-candidates

Find the respective scoring system for whatever you want to do beyond ST3

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post by Letournel

Go to theatre, decide that you actually want to do it. Find some mentors so that you can get regular access to theatre.
Criteria are pretty clear for getting in, though try not to hit the minimums:
https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/surgery/core-surgery/core-surgical-training-self-assessment-scoring-guidance-for-candidates
Find the respective scoring system for whatever you want to do beyond ST3

Thank you so much for this!! This helps a ton! Also in terms of undergraduate prize exams-- are you aware of any that are hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons? (eg: RCOphth hosts the Duke Elder for gaining credibility at the undergraduate stage, was wondering if RCS also does something similar for undergraduate students?)

Reply 3

Letournel

Original post by Anonymous

Don't think we have an equivalent of the Duke Elder, or at least not that I am aware of.

Committment to specialty mainly demonstrated through courses/conferences/surgical logbook/sitting MRCS part A early (would do it in F1 and part B in F2).