Hear from members of our SAS Committee about what inspired them to choose this career pathway and the opportunities, flexibility and fulfilment it has brought them.
No apologies for not taking the traditional route
Dr Debbie Box, Specialist Doctor in Paediatric Palliative Medicine based in Yorkshire
"Having made a positive decision more than 20 years ago to take an SAS career path in paediatric palliative medicine, I have learned:
- to value the choices this pathway has given me to keep my core priority of my caring commitments central to my life-work balance
- to stop apologising for not taking the traditional training route, and
- to demonstrate the value of my expertise and specialist role within a consultant, SAS and multi-disciplinary team in the work I do every day.
"I highly recommend doing mentoring training or having a mentor. The training improved my own wellbeing by helping me identify my goals and to continue to create my own path, giving me a sense of control and direction, and by mentoring others, helping colleagues do the same. More recently I have gained confidence, with the support and empowerment of being on the RCPCH SAS committee, to gently but firmly challenge when SAS doctors are overlooked, an advocacy role that I am excited to continue and develop to make our incredible and growing workforce more visible and valued."
Take on leadership roles...and have a work-life balance
Dr Kumar Swamy, Specialist in Neonatology at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust – Co-Chair of RCPCH SAS Committee
"SAS doctors are vital to the NHS; becoming a SAS doctor is a positive, fulfilling, and sustainable career choice which offers flexibility, stability and excellent opportunity for professional development while maintaining work life balance and take on leadership roles.
"SAS doctors can undertake a wide range of leadership positions, with opportunities available at local, regional, Royal College and national levels. Being the co-chair of the RCPCH SAS committee and SAS tutor, I've learnt a lot and supported these group of doctors and would continue to do so."
Listen to our 'Leading the Way' podcast with Kumar
Clinical autonomy, flexibility and deep expertise are so rewarding
Dr Tamanna Yesmin, Specialist Doctor, North Middlesex University Hospital and Saint Michael Community Hospital
"I enjoy being a SAS because it gives clinical autonomy, flexibility and the chance to develop deep expertise while making a real impact on patient care.
"Let’s keep promoting the SAS pathway as a valued, rewarding career choice."
See our job planning toolkit for SAS doctors
When you're confident and proactive, SAS roles are hardly stagnant
Dr Jamil Ahmad Khan, Clinical Lead Paediatric Emergency Department, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Co-Chair - SAS Committee
"I have been a SAS doctor for almost 10 years now and every moment of it has been a pure joy. Having the flexibility and opportunity of working at various seniority levels makes my SAS role a unique one.
"Being a SAS leader both locally and nationally provides an immense feeling of empowerment which not only helped me excel in my career but also enriched me with the sense of accomplishment. This breaks the taboo and misunderstanding that SAS grades are stagnant roles. Instead, it can be a highly rewarding and satisfying position.
"All it required us to be confident and proactive in initiating our SAS grade venture and then the sky is the limit."
Learn about the College's SAS Committee
Find out how the College supports members who are SAS doctors, get careers information and a job planning toolkit, hear from the SAS Committee and explore opportunities to get involved in our new section for SAS doctors.