How To Get Ahead Of The Pack!Short Listing Top Tips!

Dr Ausami Abbas

ST2

Southampton Scheme

Wessex School of Radiology

2010….. The Facts

• 655 applications

• 35% F2

• 60% of All candidates interviewed

• 89% offered 2 interviews

• 181 ST1s appointed (27%)

• 50% of those appointed direct from Foundation program

Radiology is competitive

• Run through training to CCT• Fewer ST1 posts (radiology and all specialties)• Specialty that is expanding• Applications from foundation and core training• Interview offers before other SpR/ST3

specialties • People who previously would have applied to

Core surgical training are now applying to radiology

• If successfully applying to radiology is competitive

• ….. Then you need to be competitive!!

Be Honest:Which Group Do You Belong to?

Amazing

Average

Awful

Can I Improve My chances?

Do I have time? How can I do it?

Is it too late?

Good News

• Lots of easy points to gain

• Need to be dedicated and organised

• Need to be realistic with how you improve your application

Short listing Points!

• Commitment to radiology• Understanding of career/training in radiology• Audit• Research• Publication• Presentation• Teaching• Courses• Skills• Exams• Career progression

Commitment to Radiology

• Work shadow programme• Taster week• Attendence at “Wessex radiology career day”• Radiology themed audit• Elective in radiology• Radiology Bsc• Member of radiology societies (eg BIR, SRT)• Subscribe to a journal (eg BJR)• Attendence at radiology courses/meetings

Audit

• Radiology themed• Evidence of completing

audit cycle• Presenting audit findings

at local, regional or national meetings.

• Understand difference between audit & research

• Ask Current radiology trainees if there are any audits you can help with.

Publications

• Doesn’t have to be radiology themed• 1st Author (ideal)• Pubmed indexed journal• If you haven’t try -asking seniors if you can help them -Interesting cases -Classic cases -Audit resultsThis can take a longtime and be time consuming!

Presentations

• Local / regional/ national /international• Posters or oral• Radiology meeting (ideal) • Interesting cases/ audit results• Ask seniors if you can help out with project• Ask Radiology trainees if you can help with a poster• Meetings : UKRC June

SRT July Wessex BIR December 5th National BIR December

Teaching

• Evidence of delivering formal teaching

• Regional vs local

• Timetable

• Feedback

• Teaching the teachers course

• Student tutor?

• Radiology training day?

Courses

• ATLS/ALS• Basic surgical skills• US course• X-ray courses• BIR training days

Skills

• Evidence of hand eye coordination

- Chest drains

- Central lines

- Ascitic drains

- Lumbar puncture

• Attendance/presenting at MDT

• US experience

Exams & Career progression

• More is expected of Core then F2 applicants

• Exams are more relevant to those at the end of Core training

• Evidence of distinction or prizes

• Evidence of achievement outside of medicine

• Management experience

Don’t Panic

• Aim to get extra points

• Work hard now• Focus on the

achievable!• Commitment to

radiology is KEY!!!• Have a back up plan

Finally…..• Give yourself time to complete the form

• Show it to trusted colleague

• Get the grammar checked

• There are lots of points available for the “150 word question” sections for the smart applicant

• “STAR” technique

Situation and Task, A: Action, R: Reflection.

Questions?