Surgical training is highly competitive and requires preparation, dedication and an understanding of the principles of selection. Your application will be evaluated across a range of competences according to objective criteria, with selection based primarily on your: surgical portfolio - evidence of relevant experience and achievements to date and used to demonstrate your suitability for a role surgical interview - a range of 'stations' designed to assess specific areas of the selection criteria This book is a practical guide to help you build an impressive portfolio and deliver a quality performance at interview. It offers key advice on these two areas of assessment, as follows: The surgical portfolio: Advice on where to start and how to maximise the benefit you gain from each opportunity. Each portfolio domain is discussed in turn, explaining the context and rationale and providing a guide to maximising your performance in each area. Example opportunities are provided for you to pursue to help to adapt your experience to the specific assessment criteria. The surgical interview: Understand the rationale behind the questioning to help you tailor your answers to maximise scoring. Answer templates with key guidance to help you provide effective answers based on your portfolio experiences. Guidance on contemporary surgical topics to help you with discussion and debate.
Preface Acknowledgements How to use this book Section 1: Introduction Ch 1: A career in surgery 1.1: Direct clinical care 1.2: Supporting professional activities 1.3: Additional NHS responsibilities Ch 2: Training outline and requirements for progression 2.1: Training structure 2.2: Requirements for progression Section 2: The surgical portfolio Ch 3: Portfolio presentation and structure 3.1: Table of contents 3.2: Structure Ch 4: Portfolio maintenance and the surgical logbook 4.1: General principles 4.2: Evidence required 4.3: Surgical logbook Ch 5: Creating good opportunities and maximising yield 5.1: Creating good opportunities 5.2: Maximising yield Ch 6: Portfolio domains 6.1: Using this chapter 6.2: Research 6.3: Teaching and education 6.4: Quality improvement and clinical audit 6.5: Leadership and management 6.6: Academic achievement and higher degrees 6.7: Commitment to specialty Section 3: The surgical interview Ch 7: General interview advice 7.1: Preparation 7.2: Interview day Ch 8: Understanding the question 8.1: Closed questions about professional qualities 8.2: Open questions 8.3: Ethics and professionalism 8.4: Clinical scenarios 8.5: Specific knowledge Ch 9: Characteristics assessed at interview - 'buzzwords' Ch 10: Professional qualities 10.1: How to answer questions about professional qualities 10.2: Research 10.3: Teaching and education 10.4: Quality improvement and clinical audit 10.5: Leadership and management 10.6: Communication 10.7: Teamwork 10.8: Working under pressure 10.9: Probity 10.10: Empathy and compassion Ch 11: Open questions 11.1: How to answer open questions 11.2: Why surgery? 11.3: Why this specialty? 11.4: Why this region's programme? 11.5: Tell me about yourself 11.6: What are your weaknesses? Ch 12: Ethics and professionalism 12.1: How to answer ethics and professionalism questions 12.2: Common themes 12.3: Practice questions Ch 13: Clinical scenarios 13.1: Purpose of this chapter 13.2: How to answer clinical questions 13.3: General surgery 13.4: Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 13.5: Vascular and cardiothoracic surgery 13.6: Neurosurgery 13.7: Plastic surgery 13.8: Urology 13.9: Ear, nose and throat surgery 13.10: Perioperative care 13.11: Advanced trauma life support (ATLS) 13.12: Managing a theatre list Ch 14: Knowledge-based interview stations 14.1: Apprenticeship 14.2: Leadership 14.3: Scholarship Index
