I'm in medical school and wish to pursue a surgical career

At every stage of your surgical career you have to be plan ahead and make decisions early. Once more you are off to good start if you know you wish to pursue a surgical career.

We list a few important things you could do in medical school (on top of the usual mandatory requirements) which might help you in pursuing a surgical career in the future: (i.e. what you could do to boost your CV).

  • Academic achievements - Doing well academically in medical school can certainly help. Honours, distinctions in surgery, prizes

  • Intercalation - Taking an extra year in medical school to do an intercalated degree may be beneficial and can result in additional points in job application at various levels, foundation, core and ST3.

  • Special study modules in surgery or related topics

  • Student selected placements in surgical specialities

  • Keep a log of start and end dates of all surgical placements undertaken in clinical years

  • Audits - keep a log of all audits you undertake in medical school, findings and outcomes. Try to complete an audit cycle - this will carry more points in interviews and you will be asked about it.

  • Poster presentations - aim for at least one national or international poster in medical school

  • Publications - Research, essays, case reports and articles. Remeber the student BMJ

  • Elective - Ideally in surgery, consider carrying out a project related to surgery

  • Surgical log book - keep a logbook of all operations undertaken as a student, important details to record include PID, DOB, Surgery, Location, Emergency/Elective, Consultant in charge, Hospital, Type of surgery and any complications

  • Courses - Surgical Skills for Students by the Royal College of Surgeons England

  • Teaching - Take part in formal teaching (e.g. basic life support)

  • Extracurricular activities - member of clubs, societies, sports etc

 

Applying for a job at the end of medical school

Even though you receive your medical degree at the end of medical school you will not be able to practice as a fully qualified doctor unless you complete the UK foundation programme - UKFP (specifically year 1 if you wish to complete rest of the training abroad).

In your final year of medical school you will have to apply for jobs within the UKFP. You will rank the deaneries based on the region you work in and complete and online application form. (Click here for the UKFPO website | Click here for the application handbook)

You will receive a score for your application based on the following:

  • Educational performance measure (total 50 points)
      • - 34 - 43 points depending on which decile you belong to in your cohort
      - 7 points for academic achievements -prizes, extra degrees etc

  • Situational Judgement Test (total 50 points)
      • A 2 hour 20 minute exam carried out in test centres throughout the country on two given dates. Click here for the application handbook which provides more information on this. The exam comprises of ranking questions and mcqs.

A high score means better chance of getting the job you want, in the location you want ad you can apply for competitve jobs. Competition ratios can be found in the applicant handbook.

The UKFP is a two year programme. Some deaneries will expect you to apply/rank for jobs in both FY1 and FY2 years in the UKFPO applications. Other deaneries will expect a second application in the FY1 year for FY2 jobs. You are not able to change deaneries during the two foundation years. Consider applying for rotations which are surgery heavy (i.e. more than one surgical placement). A&E, Intensive care as well as acute medicine placements also provide valuable experience and opportunities if you wish to pursue a surgical career in the future.

 

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