Hello, I’m Andrew, former president of ESSS and now academic foundation doctor on the Cambridge AFP programme. I was asked to address a few questions in this blog post so I hope you find some useful tips!
What is the Academic Foundation Programme (AFP)? There are three main types of AFP: Research, Education and Leadership. Research is the most common type and my AFP is in this area, so this will be the focus of this blog. The AFP is an excellent way to test the waters in research in academia, by allowing you either day-release from clinical commitments, or a dedicated academic block, usually in the F2 year. You will be overseen by an academic supervisor who will track your progress as you learn new skills and explore a career in academia. Why did you decide to apply? For me, there was no specific ‘decision’ – it felt like the natural next step as I had been involved in research since year 2 of the MBChB. I find research interesting and I enjoyed the variety it brought to my week, so I was keen to pursue this. I want to pursue a career in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and I’d like to combine this with research to develop the skills to be able to ask the ‘right’ question to find answers to clinical problems I am faced with. I believe this will make me a more thoughtful surgeon. I also enjoy communicating scientific work and the community that academia brings. What are some of the advantages of the programme? The AFP is an excellent opportunity to take on a reasonably sized project and see it through. You will have the chance to develop skills in teaching and research, such as working in a laboratory, working in data science or carrying out clinical research. The process of applying in itself is useful as you self-appraise your achievements and try to secure a competitive interview such as those you’ll face in higher training stages. What is the normal timeline of the AFP application? It’s worth looking up the UKFPO website for specific dates. There also the ‘rough guide’ books by UKFPO which you should read. How did you choose your deanery? It’s all about finding a balance between academic, clinical and personal reasons for your choice. I wanted a change of scene by moving down south (its much warmer!), near London where I have a good support network of friends. This is so important for starting FY1. I wanted to challenge myself in an academic surgical environment, in a programme which gave me at least two surgical jobs as well as my academic block. I applied for the Thames Valley (Oxford) and East of England (Cambridge) AUoAs, and secured interviews for both. The programme I accepted was at Cambridge, which gave me general surgery in F1 and T&O in F2, with an academic surgical block which I will be undertaking in tissue engineering. What did you do to prepare? I used the ISC Medical Interviews book as a general framework for my answers and for the interviews. However I would urge a side of caution with this as many candidates will use this book. It’s really important to try and provide original answers which are unique to you as these will more likely impress the application and interview panels. What challenges did you face during the process? The application process is time consuming and can be stressful when you are trying to balance it with SJT practice and finals revision. I made a supportive facebook group to share information with peers during the process which worked quite nicely. If you secure an AFP you must be mindful that you must complete your foundation programme competencies (aka, the dreaded sign-offs) within reduced clinical time. Common misconceptions A lot of people are put off from applying because they are not widely published. I would say this is non-essential, there are some who have secured competitive AFPs without this. However, papers do help. There are other ways to demonstrate your suitability as a candidate, such as giving talks, presenting posters and winning prizes and bursaries. Anything interesting you’ve done that doesn’t fit here should perhaps go into your white space questions! What advice do you have for others? Find your passion and pursue it. This is how you will come across as the best candidate. My key piece of advice is to gather your portfolio evidence and draft your white space questions early as these will require quite a bit of editing. The questions usually do not change drastically year on year. If you secure an interview, treat it like an OSCE and practice with friends, coffee and cake. For further freely available information, I suggest you check out BecomingaDr. I wish you all the very best of luck with your applications! ESSS thanks Dr Andrew Clelland for writing this article.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorsArticles are written by Edinburgh-based students and doctors, for the benefit of those interested in surgery. Archives
March 2024
Categories
|