Higher Specialty Training (HST)

With increasing competition for training jobs in the NHS, having a robust portfolio is not just a formality but a crucial tool for standing out in your applications and increasing your chances of securing your preferred job. In this article, I offer several principles and strategies applicable to any specialty or professional portfolio, ensuring you

Creating a strong portfolio for your ST3 surgical training application involves proper forward- thinking and planning across several key areas. Taking a goal-directed approach is the only sure way to create a portfolio that will secure your interview. Here’s a summary of essential tips and focus areas from my blog posts on ST3 portfolio preparation,

In summary, Areas 9 and 10 assess your ability to demonstrate leadership as a clinician. The GMC considers a good doctor to be more than just a clinician; they should also be able to carry out a wide range of leadership responsibilities, such as management, teaching, and training. Management involves skills in planning, organising, coordination

This portfolio section evaluates whether you possess higher education degrees from the UK or their equivalents, specifically at the master’s level and above. Degrees with a thesis or dissertation, such as an MSc, MMedEd, MS, or ChM, are awarded a score of 1. Research degrees like an MD or PhD receive the maximum score of

In summary, Areas 5-7 focus on research publication experience, conference presentations, and audits/quality improvement projects, essential for demonstrating your research leadership potential. In Area 5, assessors value publications in PubMed-indexed journals, with first-author articles earning the most points. Starting early in your career is crucial to accumulate a robust publication record. For Area 6, conference

Another key portfolio area is the hands-on surgical experience in performing common procedures specific to your specialty. To measure competency in General & Vascular Surgery, assessors tally the number of appendicectomies performed either independently or while your supervisor is scrubbed, or unscrubbed in theatre. The highest scores, a 4 out of 4, are awarded to

The performance assessment area takes into account the breadth and depth of your experience across different surgical disciplines. It evaluates your exposure to at least two specialties beyond your foundation competencies, such as T&O, Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, ENT Surgery, Cardiac/Thoracic Surgery, A&E, ITU, Paediatric Surgery, Urology, or OMFS. To reach the highest score of 2,

The Portfolio area 2 focuses on the depth of experience and commitment demonstrated by individuals within their area of specialization. It highlights the importance of balancing relevant and excessive experience. On the one hand, the longer you’ve been working in your specialization, the better your chances of scoring higher in this area, with a maximum

One crucial area of evaluation for those seeking a surgical training post is the amount of time spent in medicine post-foundation. However, it is important to note that having a significant amount of experience in this area could actually work against the applicant, potentially resulting in a lower score for their portfolio. This may seem