Secrets of Success: Getting into Specialty Training

Summary:

Secrets of Success: Getting into Specialty Training is written for all junior doctors applying for specialty training (ST) posts and is intended to guide applicants through the various challenges of the application process. All major topics that may arise during the application process are covered, including: academic achievements; teaching and learning; professional integrity; teamwork and leadership skills; clinical prioritization and time management. There is a section on ST interviews another on addressing specialty-specific questions, with good and bad example answers. The book also provides a useful 'what next' section, including invaluable advice on what to do if things don't go to plan.

• Written in an accessible and engaging style, which deals with each step of the application process in a practical and step-by-step manner

• Focuses on how to improve your ST application by applying effective structure to the application form and interview responses

• Explains what sets good candidates apart and how to make yourself a more competitive applicant

• Contains useful hints and tips, facts and figures, and provides you with all the necessary tools to help you successfully complete your application

• Written for specialty trainees by specialty trainees from a wide range of specialties - who provide a real-life insight into the best way to get into a chosen specialty

Table of Contents:
Contributors
The philosophy of ‘Maximize Your Medical Career’
Preface
Acknowledgements
Key to icons
SECTION A: Applying for specialty training
1. Introduction to specialty training - Mark J Portou
2. Specialty training across the specialties - Philip J Smith, Manoj Ramachandran and Marc A Gladman
3. The application process and scoring - Philip J Smith
4. Dissecting the application process - Philip J Smith, Manoj Ramachandran and Marc A Gladman
5. How to get THAT job: an insider’s guide - Marc A Gladman and Manoj Ramachandran
SECTION B: Completing the application form
6. Academic achievements - Luke Moore and Philip J Smith
7. Teaching and learning - Jasdeep Gill and Sukhjinder Nijjer
8. Audit and research - Elizabeth Owen and Marc A Gladman
9. Clinical governance - Mark Portou
10. Professional integrity - Kamaldeep Manak, Megan Crofts and Marc A Gladman
11. The patient as the central focus of care - Anna Barrow
12. Teamwork and leadership skills - Shalini Kawar and Anna Barrow
13. Clinical prioritization and time management - Beverley Almeida
14. Coping under pressure - Jasdeep Gill and Sukhjinder Nijjer
SECTION C: Specialty training interviews
15. Preparing a portfolio - Philip J Smith
16. Getting ready for the interview - Manoj Ramachandran and Marc A Gladman
17. Generic interview questions - Philip J Smith, Elizabeth A Owen, Mark J Portou, Manoj Ramachandran and Marc A Gladman
SECTION D: Specialty-specific questions
18. Core medical training - Luke Moore and Philip J Smith
19. Core surgical training - Marc A Gladman
20. Acute care common stem - Luke Moore
21. Paediatrics - Beverley Almeida and Elizabeth A Owen
22. Obstetrics and gynaecology - Rachel Nicholson
23. Radiology - Shilpa Patel
24. Psychiatry - David Middleton
25. Infectious diseases and medical microbiology/virology - Luke Moore
26. Histopathology - Jane Walker
27. Public health - Anne Swift
28. Academic appointments - Philip J Smith
SECTION E: The good, the bad and the emergency exits
29. Successful entry into specialty training: next steps - Beverley Almeida
30. Failure to gain entry into specialty training: what next? - Zohra Ali, Chris Godeseth and Philip J Smith
Index

About the Author(s):

Edited by
Philip J Smith BMedSci(Hons) BMBS MRCP(London)
ST4 in Academic Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology, London Deanery, London, UK

Manoj Ramachandran BSc(Hons) MBBS(Hons) MRCS(Eng) FRSC(Tr&Orth)
Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, UK; Honorary Senior Lecturer, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, UK

Marc A Gladman MBBS PhD MRCOG MRCS(Eng) FRCS(Gen Surg) UKCRC Clinical Lecturer in Surgery, Centre for Academic Surgery, Institute of Cell & Molecular Science, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, UK

Associate Editor
Elizabeth A Owen MBBS BMedSci(Hons) MRCPCH
ST3 in Paediatrics, London Deanery, London, UK

Contributors:
Philip J Smith BMedSci(Hons) BMBS MRCP(London) ST4 in Academic Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology, London Deanery, London, UK Manoj Ramachandran BSc(Hons) MBBS(Hons) MRCS(Eng) FRCS (Tr&Orth) Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, UK; Honorary Senior Lecturer, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, UK Marc A Gladman MBBS PhD MRCOG MRCS(Eng) FRCS(Gen Surg) UKCRC Clinical Lecturer in Surgery, Centre for Academic Surgery, Institute of Cell & Molecular Science, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, UK Elizabeth A Owen MBBS BMedSci(Hons) MRCPCH ST3 in Paediatrics, London Deanery, London, UK Zohra Ali MBBS(Hons) BSc(Hons) MRCP(London) ST3 in Medical Oncolo

Readership:
All junior doctors before and during the application and interview process

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