Eslam Edris - Specialty Doctor in Paediatric Medicine & Haematology and SAS Committee representative for Northeast England
Then I joined as a SAS doctor... I felt I was on the right career pathway
I want to share my SAS career journey with you. I moved to UK after a long journey overseas, completed training and exams and worked in 4 different countries. After moving to UK, I was not sure how I could plan my career, then I joined as SAS doctor in a district hospital then moved to Sheffield Children’s Hospital trust. I then felt I was on the right career pathway. I progressed in my trust to take more senior roles, I found opportunity that suits my interest in teaching, to be a supervisor and training lead for physician associate master student at the trust.
I also like digital technology and its role in improving the health care quality. I got the chance to be the clinical lead for electronic prescribing and medicine management and administration project in our trust, and we celebrated the successful implementation and the massive change in the prescribing system as one of the most important steps in our digital journey. As patient safety is always priority and learning from incidents is crucial, I started my new role as rapid learning response lead, as the trust started to adopt Patient Safety and Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).
I found loads of opportunities for SAS doctors on the RCPCH website. I joined the SAS Committee as a representative for Northeast England and I was able to see how the College listen to us and works actively to support our career development. One of these opportunities that the college supported is to be a clinical supervisor for paediatric trainees, so I completed my educational supervision training course by the RCPCH and now I am a clinical supervisor.
That’s not everything. I also found another amazing opportunity with the RCPCH as a clinical lead for the EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) group; being from minor ethnicity background, I value all the College work on the EDI values. I would like to thank my team and RCPCH team for the ongoing support to SAS doctors.
Peter Rose - Specialty Doctor in Paediatric Epilepsy and General Paediatrics, SAS Committee Member
I wish I could say I am #SASbyChoice, but I am more #SASbyAccident!
I realised a little late that I wanted to become a paediatrician, having initially left medical school thinking I wanted to be a surgeon. My FY1 (foundation year 1) post in surgery quickly knocked that idea out of me! During late FY1 and early FY2, rotations in Orthopaedics and Emergency Medicine showed me I was quite adept with children and their parents.
I wasn’t accepted onto the Paediatrics Training programme the first time I applied in 2008. Following the MTAS debacle the previous year, everyone applied for GP training, so I did a year of that. My first six months in paediatrics convinced me that was where my heart lay. I reapplied in 2009, was accepted, and resigned from GP training.
I managed to reach ST6 before burnout set in. Like many, I struggled to pass the MRCPCH within the required time frame. Then, a family bereavement struck, followed by twice-yearly rotations, constantly shifting ARCP (annual review of competency progression) requirements, and more. Eventually, I stopped engaging with the tick-boxing and was released from the training programme. I accept full responsibility for my part in that, but I have been left with some strong opinions about training.
Fortunately, my work was valued, and the hospital where I had my final training post kept me on as a Locally Employed Doctor. After eight years in that role, I’ve been given a substantive contract as a Specialty Doctor in General Paediatrics with a specialist interest in epilepsy. Now, I lead my department’s epilepsy service.
I’ve discovered that doctors outside of training or consultancy are effectively invisible. Invisibility is a rubbish superpower!
I’ve recently been appointed as a representative on the RCPCH SAS Committee. I fully intend to use this opportunity to help SAS and Locally Employed paediatricians feel seen.