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Evening guys. Um Hi, once more in another uh of our webinars. This time, we are gonna be speaking about how to get into training um cor aesthetics and I've got doctor Aha with me here today. Um If you haven't watched our previous episodes of um A CCS Emergency Medicine and I MT or if you know people who need to watch those, um please do send them to them um from the me uh website and um without any further ado, I'll hand over to AA. Um Thanks Lisa. Uh Hi, everyone. Um My name is Aisha. I am Act One core anesthetics trainee uh based in North Wales. So today, um as it, as I said, I'm going to be talking about the kind of application process to get into core anesthetics. Um And what I did personally to get my training number. Um So if anyone has any questions at any point, um just feel free to put them in the chart and I'll kind of answer them as I go along. Um So I'll just start off with talking about my background. So I graduated in Sudan in um November of 2020 between May and August of 2021. I did my pla one and pla two examinations. Um and I got my GMC provisional registration um by September of 2021. Um I think the UK FP O application deadline is at the end of September uh to get into the foundation training program. Um So that's what I did. Um and I applied by the end of September 2021 to start foundation year one in September of 2022. Um between September and then May of 2022. So kind of the gap year gap that I had, I did a master's in cancer and clinical oncology um in Queen Mary University of London and I finished that in May and then I began my foundation year one in August of that year. Um So here in the foundation program, you get your full GMC registration at the end of FY one before you um begin your FY two. So I got my full GMC registration in July of 2023. And I was able to apply for training in October of 2023. Um And then I began this year. Um So the following year in August of 2024 my CT one um so lots of different things to uh consider when applying for training. I think it's getting increasingly more competitive uh every year. So the main thing uh with anesthetics is that you have your MSR exam uh which contributes to 15% of your score and then 85% will come from your interview um in your interview, uh things to think about courses, um your leadership skills, uh your clinical experience um teaching, you've done your commitment to specialty all of this and Q IP uh research and whether you want to apply for core anesthetic training or A CCS and I will go on to explain the difference between them. Um So just a quick again overview of the application process because it can be something you need to prepare for early. And I think something I didn't mention there but is worth considering is your personal circumstances um especially with having to study for the exam. So, for example, I was doing my uh ed rotation um in the month leading up which left me with limited study time. Um So it's also kind of taking into consideration um what you will be doing and how much time you have to study and prepare while applying. So uh applications opened last year um on the 24th of October, they closed uh or sorry. So this year um they opened today on the 24th of October and they'll close on the 21st of November. Um Then you will have the M SRA invites uh the window in which you will sit the M SRA and you will get your M SRA results. Uh Now the dates for these aren't out yet. Um I think they are yet to be confirmed. Um And then once you have your M sra results, you will get an invitation to interview by the 12th of February uh of next year. Um The interview window. Um So you, you'll only have a couple of weeks to prepare for the interview. So I think starting early is key, but then the interview window will be from the 25th of February to the 14th of March. And offers are released uh for an August start date on the 25th of March 2025. Um I think it is also important to remember that there is a second application round. Um And then I think that typically opens in July and that's known as round three. So even if you didn't get an offer this in this application cycle, you can apply in round two. So you can uh start your begin your application in July. Um You'll see your M Sra I think October September time and then you have uh a February start date. So just remember there's another application cycle. Um Now with anesthetics, there is two routes in the UK um to CCT and anesthetics. And you can enter core anesthetics training um which is three years in that three years, you'll do two years, six months of pure anesthetics. So uh just theater and six months of itu um they split your itu blocks. So typically in most places you'll do three months in your CT, 13 months in your CT three of ITU or you can do a CCS anesthetics, which is a four year program. So it's an extra year and you'll do nine months in itu, six months of acute medicine, six months of A&E and then two years, three months in anesthetics. I think the biggest incentive typically to do a CCS anesthetics is that uh if you're considering applying to intensive care, um you're able to apply because you have your acute medicine um experience kind of ticked off already. Whereas if you were to do co and aesthetics and you were then wanted to apply to ST four ITU training, you would have to do uh I think a year um 6 to 12 months of medicine to kind of make up what you hadn't done. Um I think they are considering changing that now, but no changes have been implemented as of yet for certain, as far as I'm aware. So just things to think about um in terms of what you wanna do in the future when you're considering which path you wanna pick. Um I think also just to say touching on that. Um I noticed that when I was applying in ranking places, there are regions in the country where there's a lot more A CCS compared to core and vice versa. Um In the Midlands, for example, there was a lot more A CCS posts. Um So again, this can vary from region to region depending on which location you'd like to work in. Um So the M SRA exam um so this again contributes for 15% of your score. Um It is something to really think about and prepare well for because yes, it only, it makes up 15%. So it doesn't seem like that much, but that is what they base your invite to interview um on. So you need a certain mark in the er M sra to get an er, an invitation to interview. Um I know the cost of went up last year. Um and there is two different papers in it and both of those papers have equal ring um with the anesthetics uh national recruitment office. So um take it seriously. Um But study time, I would give it 3 to 4 months if possible. Um And I think it's key. Um So again, for me, I was doing my ed rotation but luckily my next rotation, which actually took the exam um was GP. So that was at the, I had just switched over to GP when I took the exam and I was able to, luckily get a few days of study leave, uh which was really helpful. Um And I also think that you may not always get to take the exam in your city because the slots can go quite quickly. Um So just in case you need to travel um or go far away, it's important to think about um to accommodate for that. So if you need to leave yourself a night to travel or stay over wherever in order to take the exam. Um So key to the exam are question banks. Um So for the clinical section, I use past medicine and I used M CQ Bank. I think past medicine is good to cover just a wide range of topics um and kind of improve your knowledge across all specialties. M CQ Bank. I found that the questions were more similar to the exam, the stems were shorter. Um And again, also good just to really go over those topics. Um in terms of the S JT section, I used, I didn't use the S JT on past medicine. Um I don't think it's very good as far as I'm aware, I don't know if they've changed anything but um, II didn't find it helpful. I didn't use it at all. So I did my S JT practice only using M CQ Bank and I used E Medica. Um So again, three different subscriptions. It does cost a bit of money, but I think, I think it's worth it to kind of um give it your best shot. The first time there is a couple of M sra uh pass papers available. Um If you google them, um I think it's important to do the official p pass papers just to get an idea of what the exam will be like, um it's important to practice under timed conditions. I think you have 75 minutes and 95 minutes um for each section of the exam. So practice, practice them timed. Um And I would focus really on just completing the question banks and on national guidelines. So the exam is quite GP focused. Um So there was topics such as contraceptives. I hadn't, I hadn't looked at in a while. Um, so using things like the nice C KS guidelines um as well as the question banks can be helpful. Um But I think, I think it's doable, I just think you need to practice early. Um And it's helpful to also go over the kind of topics you were weak on at the end of it. And I would say that's mostly it for the exam as long as you do these, it's not too bad um in terms of courses. So this is all for the interview and what you'll be scored on in the interview, especially in terms of commitment to specialty. Um So a LS ATL S APL S any kind of advanced life support course is really, really uh helpful in when you're talking about um things you've done that are relevant to specialty in your interview. Um Simulation courses are always helpful in anesthetics. There's a huge focus on simulation based training. Um In each each year you'll do anesthetics every few months, you'll do some kind of sim so experience is not as helpful um ultrasound, guided vascular access. Um This is another one that's I think is becoming um widely available in most, in most hospital stores. So even if you can do a one day course um in your region, it will help, it will be helpful to talk about in your interview. Um teaching. Um So in anesthetics, there's a really big emphasis um on teaching. Um there's a lot of 1 to 1 teaching on a daily basis. Um So I think they like to see that you have had some kind of teaching experience um with feedback. Um So in terms of what I did personally, I joined mind the bleep and I did their uh fy one course um for incoming fy one doctors. So I did that in my F one, I joined the International Doctors Association and I led a couple of sessions on OSK based sessions um alongside medical students. So you get feedback from the person you're working with as well as um the audience or whoever you've presented to. Um in most trusts if you contact your post graduate education, uh the undergraduate educational team, um there's opportunities to take part in being an ac examiner for medical students um from 3rd, 4th, 5th years. So I think that's a really good way also to um get some teaching experience and have that feedback there. Um I joined departmental teaching sessions so this can vary from department to department and you may not get the opportunity to do it in acute medicine or ed, for example, but in specialties, um which were a little bit more, I would say relaxed or allocated more time for teaching. Um I was able to uh join on alongside a registrar. We present a case or a certain topic um to everyone in the department. And I think that one is helpful just because you're presenting to people of all different levels. So you'll get a consultant registrar, peer to peer feedback. Um And then another one that I think is also can be um not too difficult to facilitate is doing bedside teaching sessions. Um So again, in my trust, so um I did my foundation in Liverpool and I was able to um along uh contact the undergraduate um the undergraduate representatives and I did bedside teaching sessions with 2nd, 3rd final year medical students. And that that one is usually to two or three people at a time. So, again, linked back to anesthetics where you're teaching um on quite an individualized level. Um and getting feedback on that and certificates uh can also be helpful. So these are all different ways you can get some experience and feedback, further teaching opportunities. So I did not do these personally. Um but I know they're available and they're out there and they can also be helpful. Um Teach the teacher is an online course uh with Oxford Medical that you can applied uh that you can complete online. Um I think it's 100 and 80 lbs. Um And you can use that as evidence of a of a formal, of a formal teaching kind of course that you've done Oxford Medical will also offer one called mentoring skills for doctors, which I think uh is helpful and that one is also 100 and 80 lbs. Um And I know when you're so II did my F one and F two and I know that you can also apply when you're applying at foundation program, you can do the academic foundation program. I think with the academic foundation program, they will often incorporate either research or teaching in with that. So if you are considering um starting from F one and doing that route, it can be helpful to do that. Um In, in terms of you either can sometimes get APG cert in medical education out of it or you'll get research opportunities uh or you can have a, have an emphasis on teaching. So just something to consider um it will be a long way off between two or three years between when you're applying to foundation and completing it and then applying for specialty training, but everything counts. So if you can do it early, um II would say something to think about um clinical teaching fellow posts. Um If you are considering applying for a non locum job um as a junior clinical fellow, if you doing one with an emphasis on teaching or you'll be doing a lot of teaching on a day to day basis. Uh can be really helpful to talk about in your interview. Um So I will say that my interview, I didn't have very much related to anesthetics and itu specifically, I didn't have an itu rotation. Um But I was able to kind of take what I had done. So I had done a, a few different things in terms of teaching and talk about that in my interview. So everything counts, I would say, don't worry if you don't have anything related specifically to critical care anesthetics because um you can kind of take what you've done and they give you an opportunity to talk about that. Um Leadership. Um So again, I didn't, I didn't do too much of leadership um in my F one or F two. I think there is always local opportunity. So in each trust, when you join, you can have roles within the Junior Doctors Mess, whether that's treasure mess president, all of this can be helpful to have down on your CV. Um And talk about what you learned from doing that role. Um In each hospital, there is a typically a junior doctor's forum which is kind of a committee that represents the junior doctors and there's various roles within that um that would demonstrate leadership skills. Um The British Medical Association, um you can join that and I think you can apply to be a representative for your regional Trust. And they, again, they have lots of different roles within that. Um That would be really good to talk about in terms of leadership and then the NHS Leadership Academy website, if you go into that, they offer a few different programs. Um and they're all kind of different lengths. So there's an Edward Jenner, Mary C Cole, um Rosalind Franklin program, I think Edward Jenner isn't longer than a month, kind of depending on how, how you do it. Whereas Rosalind Franklin is quite extended, I think it might be up to nine months. So all of these are ways to kind of get those leadership points in there and be able to demonstrate that you've taken, um, you've, you've put effort into developing those skills. Um audit research. I would say it's, it's really key to have some involvement in audit or uh or audit or research as you're applying for specialty training, um how to approach this. So I would early or wherever you start, um whenever you're working, find the audit or research lead in your department and approach them. Um Again, you can also approach your education and clinical supervisors, which is what I did. So when I had my um initial meetings quite early on with my supervisors, I would express that I had an interest in completing an audit or research project. And I would, um they would involve me in opportunities quite early. I would say when it comes to audit, be specific when selecting which to partake in. I think it's, it's quite difficult sometimes because you can get um you can end up doing audits that are not particularly relevant, that take up a lot of time. Um So I think if you have the chance kind of be selective when, if you're thinking about anesthetics, audits in anything critical care, itu um trauma ed, acute medicine, um imaging, even imaging in terms of like ultrasound, guided cannulation, um anything in peri or postoperative care um will all be show kind of commitment to specialty and show that you were thinking about um your chosen specialty or anesthetics uh when selecting that audit to do. Um saying that I didn't do anything specifically anesthetics related. Like for example, I had done, I had two surgical rotations which was eight months of my f one. So I ended up doing a surgical audit in urology and robotic cystectomies. But again, I was able to kind of take the fact that that considered um postoperative outcomes for patients and try and link that back to anesthetics and per and postoperative care. So anything you can do, I'm sure you can find a way to link them back to um kind of anesthetics or critical care or not necessarily, but you can find a way to talk about it. But again, if you have the opportunity to be more selective about what audits you do. Um Definitely consider this. Um I think it's also important to try and get in and be first or second author if, if possible. Um It's not, it isn't always is. But when you do that and you're often the lead again, you can go back and say, OK, I led this, I demonstrated leadership management skills even just when doing this audit. Um and talking to my team members about our roles and things like that. Um And again, um it will, it will be helpful in your interview. Um I was able to um so I did that, I did another audit in my medicine block in um kind of a consultant l service um for intervening in uh patients with poor glycemic control. And I was able to talk about that and that was presented at a national level. Um I was also able to present my surgical audit at an international conference. Um And I think taking the opportunity where possible to go and take part in the presentation um is, is important, especially if you are the main speaker. Um So I just presenting at a regional level, National International where possible um is all helpful to talk about. And I think if you can publish a research project, um that's, that's impressive. II hadn't had any um research publications but you can publish case reports um which take uh I think significantly less time. And again, this, this, if you take a case report and you're able to present it well, um publish it um alongside a consultant um that takes a lot less time and again, will be a publication. So it will score you another point in your interview. Um and taking there's also opportunities. So I'd mentioned teaching fellows earlier in terms of clinical fellow jobs, there's also research fellow opportunities. So you can join a department as a research fellow and develop your research skills. Um There is a lot of audits and research and anesthetics and there is a few big audits. So like the National Audit Audit audit projects, and there is like the National Emergency laparotomy Audits which involve with the anesthetics and the surgical team. So there's a way to get involved in these um in, in, in audits, even if you're not, don't have the opportunity to be in the anesthetics department. Um or even if you have knowledge of these and an understanding and you're able to talk about them in your interview, um It will, it will count kind of towards the points that you get uh commitment to specialty. So I had done um Taste Rics in both anesthetics and ITU um I was able to do my Taste Rica, a major trauma center um where anesthetics would be present at every trauma call. So that was good for me to talk about. I think this is something relatively simple and um is really key to having done when before your interview. Um So I would definitely try and organize a taste a week early prior to your interview and try if you can get some time in it. Great if you can only do it in anesthetics, but it's important to have some kind of experience before, before your interview. Um clinical experience in acute specialties. So I spoke about my um emergency department rotation. I think there is a number of relevant specialties mentioned. Um So those include emergency medicine, um acute medicine, nicu PICU um even radiology and obstructi uh obstructions. All of these are kind of relevant to anesthesia. So any experience in these um would be good to talk about in your interview. Um You could join a organization like the Association of Anesthetists. Um And I think the Royal College also offer memberships to foundation doctors um as well as to medical students. So um joining these and kind of they have lots of different uh webinars events um opportunities. Um And I know I know that they're paid, but I think the RCO membership for a foundation is, is maybe 36 lbs. So it's not horrifically expensive to join. Um And it would, it would demonstrate some commitment to specialty and show that you've thought about um the curriculum um and your pathway in anesthetics. And then again, uh you're learning for healthcare. There is one for anesthetics, there is one for intensive care medicine. Um and may give you some knowledge that you can talk about in your interview um in terms of logbooks. So I applied in my foundation year two and during my F one and F two, I was using Horace E portfolio, which is ok, but I felt, I felt quite basic. Um but it's free. So I was able to kind of log anything I'd done on there. I know there is one that you can pay for like Kai Kaiser, which is expensive. It's, it's 400 lbs. But I've heard it's a really good portfolio. And I think if I was in a nontraining job and I was just trying to be able to have quite a meticulous portfolio when I was applying to training, I would have considered something like that. Um to keep track of any cases I've done the procedures. Um Anything that you've done during training or during your nontraining job, it could be good for. Um Yes. Oh, I've just got a question. Um Hi, apparently not. So she said, where, where can we find these e learning courses for ICU and anesthetics if you type in e-learning for healthcare? Um So I got my log login when I initially had joined my trust but ele for healthcare on Google, um I'll see if I can post a link at the end. Um You're able to find they have a number of different modules for anesthetics and then they have e learning for health care intensive care and that separate and you'll be able to find all the modules on there. Um So that will be um in terms of the um membership exams in anesthetics. Um So again, important to have knowledge of these prior to your interview. Um It is not necessary to do any anesthetics uh previous uh, no problem. Um So it's not necessary to do any of the exams for core or a CCS anesthetics prior to training. But you do need to know each exam because you can be asked to talk about the curriculum in your interview. So in anesthetics, you'll have two sets of exams. Um, one you'll complete in stage one of training, which is CD one CT three and then you'll have the final exam which you'll complete at ST four. The primary F RCA will consist of three different papers. So, uh three different exams. So initially you'll have a written paper which is an M CQ. You'll have a vi A which is where you sit across the table from two examiners and you're quizzed on a number of different topics and then you have an O um and then the final F RCA you have to have completed from, er, beginning of ST four to mid ST five. And that again consists of a recent paper, er, a viva, um, and an OSK. So, um, I would have a look maybe at the, uh, details of this on the RCO A website again prior to interview to just demonstrate commitment to specialty knowledge of the curriculum, which you are scored on uh requirements before you apply to um anesthetics. Um So you have to have either completed the UK foundation program or you have to have 12 months of medical experience, post full GMC registration and you have to have your quest form um ready to apply. Um It's important also to know that you can't have more than 24 months experience in anesthetics prior to the start date. So let's say, for example, you had done nontraining jobs for two or three years before you initially applied, you wanna make sure that not all of those are spent in anesthetics because I know that having more than 24 months makes you ineligible to actually apply to CT one. So just be careful if you're choosing your um your fellow jobs or where, where you're getting your experience in between applying to specialty training. Um You can also apply if you have current, if you're currently uh employed in a GMC approved training program and you're thinking of changing career or that was, that was the plan. Um So again, you can apply with that. Um So I'm gonna talk a little bit about just the skills um which are listed um on the kind of the health education website and the anesthetics National Recruitment office, I'll say aro for that um in terms of what they are looking for uh for an applicant to anesthetics. Um So essential criteria is, in terms of your clinical skills is recognition of an ability to undertake initial management of an acutely ill patient, ability to prioritize according to clinical need, ability to maximize safety and minimize risk while working under pressure and ability to apply sound clinic, knowledge and judgment problems. So all of these I think can be gained in, in any job that you do. Um It is helpful if it is um in, in a relevant specialty. Again, like I'd mentioned like acute medicine or recess, but I think we've uh or um in recess, but I think we've all worked um in jobs or had experience um in managing a critically ill patient. Um So I think that one should be OK. Um Desirable criteria, procedural skills. So I think use your strength. So if you're particularly good at using um a cannulation or um you're the kind of the person that's always called to do cannulations or take blood for difficult patients, you know, to speak about that if you, I would say try and get experience. Um Again, I'd mention the ultrasound guided imaging, ultrasound, guided cannulation or IV access courses. Um If you have that skill and speak about it, if you've done a course in it, talk about that in your interview. Um Again, desirable is um advanced trauma, life support, pediatric, advanced life support experience and itu experience in prehospital emergency medicine, um which I think not everyone always thinks about. But again, I know some people had done a a week or two, even just um Saint John Ambulance, which is a voluntary service. Um Anything, any kind of volunteering role in that or um experience in advanced life support will be helpful and then evidence of up to date and demonstratable, advanced life support scales. So that again, that's your A LS um your ATL S your B LS any of these um is key in, in your interview and when you're demonstrating your clinical skills, but you don't, again, these are desirable, so you don't have to have them done, but I think they're good to be able to talk about um a academic skills. So, understanding of research, your essential criteria is understanding of research um including awareness of ethical issues, understanding of basic principles of audits, um evidence based practice, patient safety and knowledge of evidence, informed practice. Um So this is where I'll say that even when you're talking, um I'd mentioned, for example, the National audit products in, in anesthetics, even if you hadn't necessarily completed an audit or research project. Uh by the time you're applying, even being able to talk about those projects and demonstrate an understanding of the principles of how an audit or AQ IP is conducted um is considered an essential kind of skill that you have as long as you can demonstrate that knowledge and understanding. Um I think that's what's key um desirable. So your experience in research, audit and quality improvement skills and your evidence of relevant academic and research achievements. So any prizes that you got in medical school, um distinctions, awards, publications, er presentations that you've completed at conferences. So I was able to then go back to my master's which again had nothing to do with anesthetics or critical care at all. But I was able to talk about the research skills I gained and my thesis, I was able to demonstrate how I kind of understood the principles of research um and demonstrate my interest in research from what I had done. So remember that anything you've done, you're able to kind of bring it back and talk about the skills that they're looking for. Um Even if it's not immediately relevant to the specialty. Um and then again, additional uh related qualifications. Um and teaching again, a huge emphasis on teaching and anesthetics. Um So any evidence of interest in and experience of teaching, evidence of feedback for teaching. So if you've got, um for example, for my bedside teaching sessions, I just got a certificate um of excellent teaching feedback, use that talk about it in your interview. Um And if you're a membership of a faculty for a local uh local, regional or national training event or course, so this would be like um example, like mind bleep or um the International Doctors Association that I'd mentioned earlier, um make sure to speak about these things. Uh personal skills. So what are they looking for in a prospective applicant? I would say uh commitment to your personal and professional development, ability to work on your own initiative. Demonstrating curiosity, strong attention to detail, preparation and planning your ability to communicate messages effectively to a range of audience, your ability to negotiate and build positive professional relationships and strong problem solving skills with an analytical or scientific approach to problem solving. Um I will say also just to mention when you're applying, you will need two references. So it's important to have two consultants. Um Typically, II used two of my um clinical supervisors during foundation that I had done projects with or that I had a good personal relationship with and they were able to provide me my references. So again, that's just something to think about um that you'll have to have at the beginning of the application process, you, you, you have to put their emails and contact details in and then they later on ask them for a reference if you were to get a job. Uh So just something to keep in mind um uh workplace skills that they're looking for in terms of management and leadership. Um So I've pulled these directly from the website. So this is exactly what they're looking for. So ability to work in A MDT and supervise colleagues um ability to lead, make decisions, organize and motivate team members, ability to manage, manage slash prioritize own and others time effectively. Um So again, in anesthetics when things go wrong, um they tend to go wrong very, very quickly. So they are really looking for someone who has the ability to kind of remain calm, um and be able to lead a team. Um You're often working on your own anesthetics and if um something were to happen, you kind of have everyone surgeon and the theater staff, everyone is kind of looking at you to make the decisions um and to be able to manage whatever is happening. So I think that's quality that they really look for. Um again, with that comes working under pressure and being able to remain calm and try and think of some scenarios where you managed or where you felt you were under pressure, but you managed it well or you managed an a critically unwell patient. Um anything like that and showing that you have the ability to do kind of deliver good clinical care. Um Even if it, you felt uncomfortable or out of death in a scenario until the health arrived, um is, is something that they would uh find good in a prospective applicant and it skills they've mentioned and other, I would say have also something in terms of an evidence of achievement outside medicine. Um So I spoke about, for example, some charity work that I had been involved in, in Sudan that I'd organized with my peers. Um And how we organized an event, for example, like an open mic event which had nothing to do, of course, with anesthetics or medicine. Um But I was able to just talk about the leadership um the the teamwork that had gone into that. Um And how we were able to kind of follow a plan, but it just shows that you have things that you do outside of medicine. Um And sometimes that's, they wanna hear a little bit about that and event, evidence of organizational skills. Again, this doesn't have to be necessarily medicine, but organization within your university of a sports section, a music club, anything like that um that you have done. Um It's something that you could, could be asked about in your interview. Um I will say uh just in terms of your commitment to specialty, so an had published a document and it showed some positive indicators of what they're looking for when it comes to scoring you on commitment to specialty. Um And this is in your interview. So clear evidence of previous exposure to anesthesia, including undergraduate placements in anesthetics, itu taster sessions and career open days. I will say a key here is your taster weeks. Um So make sure to organize those good insight and knowledge. So just as knowledge of the curriculum and what is expected from you as an anesthetics, trainee clear evidence of the knowledge of the anesthetics A CCS training scheme and demonstrated clear vision of opportunities available for career development within anesthetic training. Um Again, so just really good knowledge of the curriculum and what you'll be doing in each year as a trainee other things. Um in terms of commitment to specialty, there is a big emphasis now on reflective practice in anesthetics. And I think that is where your kind of logbook comes in key. So they'll ask you, give me a scenario of, of something that went wrong and, and how, what you reflected on and what you learned from it. Um And I think that's um something to keep in mind again, relevant, audits, products, research and then teaching, which we, I had spoken about earlier. Um So the interview, so this accounts for 85% of your score. So I would say practice, practice um as much as you can for this. Um So the interview is two stations, they are 15 minutes. Each, there is a clinical scenario station and a general station in each station you'll get. So in the clinical station, you'll get five minutes to read the scenario and prepare your answers. Um And then 10 minutes of questioning from the examiners and there's two examiners in each, in each of these stations. So there's 24 examiners in total. Um Two in the first two in the second. Um I used Medi Body and I used Quest Meed and I was kind of um practiced everything on these with a friend. They have lots of examples of what clinical scenarios could come up and they have example answers for the general questions that you can be asked. So, um how have you demonstrated your commitment to specialty and tell me about a research project? You did tell me about an audit, what is your biggest achievement? Um They have kind of model answers for all of these, which of course you'll adapt to your personal experiences. But I think they provide quite a good framework. Um I was able to so on a local level, my uh trust had held an interview prep course um in which we had the opportunity to practice with um senior registrars and consultants. I think this was really, really helpful um because a lot of the interview is about your technique um and your body language. Um So, um practicing out loud and practicing with friends is really key. And if you have the opportunity to then practice with a uh consultant and registrar and just ask them for feedback, um that would be really, really good. I think when you're practicing uh it's a Tazo, is it an online or face to face? It's an online interview. Um So they'll send you a link, um an invite to interview on the website you accept and then they give you the details of the website. Um So, um in terms of my interview personally, um in my clinical scenario, I had an acutely unwell obese patient in ed and they asked me how I would manage this. Uh It's important to remember they're not expecting you to have anesthetics experience. Um People typically don't, some people may have itu experience. But um unless you were kind of lucky enough to get an anesthetics um rotation in your foundation, um they wouldn't expect you to have any knowledge. So it will be knowledge expected of an, of a foundation you two doctor. Um And that's the kind of level that they're looking for. So I had an acutely unwell obese patient in ad um my, my patient, my scenario was anaphylaxis. So again, you're just approaching an at e manage at e manner. Um They'll ask you kind of what's particularly difficult about this patient. So he's obese, his airway might be a bit of a problem. Um So again, they're, they're very, I would say they're not expecting too much, but they just want you to be systematic and they want to know that you're safe. Um So just remember that um in my general interview, I got kind of asked about what made me interested in anesthetics. And I will say that because I didn't have the best CVI think I just, it's about demonstrating a real interest for the specialty that you're doing. So, showing kind of your interest in physiology um in resource, in managing unwell patients um in physiology. Um and, and pharmacology. Sorry, it's, it's all really important and it, it's kind of important that, that enthusiasm comes across because that's what they're looking for. Um I got asked what was my greatest achievement? And I spoke about a uh teaching project that I had done. Uh they asked me talk about a mistake you made um in kind of clinical practice and what you learned from it. And then finally, I got asked about my knowledge of the anesthetic uh curriculum um and the exams, um I've just pulled this, this is the interview scoring matrix um uh which is used by the um examiners in your interview. So you'll see here that you can get you, it's 50 points in each station. So they're equally wasted. And in your clinical station, what you're scored on is your clinical judgment and decision making, uh your team working and your ability to work under pressure. Um And then you get a uh global racing and then that makes up that station in your general interview station, there is five points for reflective practice, uh five for commitment to specialty um and five points for professional behavior and communication and then a global rating. And then again, both of these will make up your overall score. Um So, yeah, so your professional behavior and communication will just be from, how are you sitting, how are you presenting yourself? How are you dressed? It's important to kind of be in a room with good lighting to practice, speaking slowly and calmly. Um All of these are kind of easy ways to score points as long as you do enough practice. Um That would, and then in terms of your reflective practice, again, mistakes, you've made kind of scenarios that you've thought about that you're ready to speak to and then you're, you have your commitment to specialty. Um But I think that is most of it. Um So there is no kind of uploading. So I know for some specialties like radiology, you have to upload your evidence in anesthetics. You don't have to do that. It's purely speaking about everything you've done in your interview. Um So it has a huge big 85% of the rating. Um So once you've kind of passed the M SRA it's your interview that's really key and being able to speak about everything you've done and advocate for um kind of why, why you should get a job. Um And then finally, I have just put up some resources. So the Association of Anesthetists, you can join. Um the Royal College also has memberships for foundation uh doctors as well as membership uh as well as medical students. Um There, I've just put up ABM J article about it kind of a guide to becoming an anesthetic doctor. I've linked the National recruitment office um how to apply. Um There's a webinar for uh by the Association of Anesthetists and e-learning for anesthetics. And then I have future learn uh which is a UCL kind of RCA RCO a approved course and they offer a couple of different courses relevant to the specialty. Um So I hope that was helpful. And does anyone have any questions? Thanks so much, Aisha. Um I think someone was asking you if the interview was face to face or online. Um Yeah. Uh it's, it's online, it was online. Fine. That was really good. Um We'll just wait a couple of minutes and wait for questions to come by. Um I know you said the M SRA was 15%. Well, I actually thought it was a lot more but 15% but you need to be on the top scoring 15% isn't it to actually go anywhere rather than the, the the M sra? Yeah. So um yeah, really, really key to make sure because that is your first kind of big obstacle is to get that score to get your invite to interview. Um You've got another question um for the biggest mistake question, what sort of answer would be appropriate? Uh What sort of answer would be appropriate. So I would say anything where you've made a mistake but it hasn't affected patient safety too badly. Um So I had just talked about a mistake kind of um in so kind of a wrong prescription, for example, but maybe one that was spotted by the nurses. Um So that, that was something I spoke about. I spoke about a wrong dose of insulin that I prescribed but the nurse had come and spoke to me about it and how it was a kind of a busy night shift, a stressful situation and how I reflected and learned from that. So I would say, kind of be careful, uh, choose a mistake but, but let it not be too much of a mistake. Like no one died and no one was, you know, terribly affected. Even if so, even if the medication was given no patient harm, no harm came to, the patient is quite, quite important. Yes, exactly. Um Someone asked what was the cut off when I applied for the M SRA when I applied last year, the cut off for anesthetics, I think it was 565. Um Yeah, so I think, but the year prior to that it was around maybe five in the five fifties. So it was, it was quite a big jump. II think my A was 540 was so, yeah, it, it just, it kept going high and high. Um So you really need to when the first time I did my M sra, I thought that they will obviously count my results, but it's not like they will also look at everything else because I had a really good CV. But that's not how it works. You need to score the highest M sra point and then they will look at your CV without, will look at your CV. And so I made that mistake like I studied, you know, like a month before and I was like, oh, it's fine. I was alright but don't do that. No. Uh yeah, I don't neglect it. Um any other questions, any tips to ensure that you cover important topics for the M sra especially to ensure you revise certain topics last minute. Um I mean, I would say maybe a good method um especially if you're limited on time is to kind of because it can, it is quite broad and it covers everything because it's a GP exam. So you'll have your pediatrics, your abs, your gyne everything is in there. So I would kind of how I did it was, I did pass medicine. I kind of tried to do everything once and any topics I was weak on. Um, I would either try and go back and do again or if I didn't have enough time, I would only do those topics on M CQ bank. Um, so I think it's more, everything is kind of important. I know that's not that helpful, but try and just go over the ones that you're weak on, um, be strategic about it, I would say, um, and, and pay equal attention to the S GT. Um, I don't know about you. I know everyone said that some people say it's completely random but I've kind of felt that the more practice I did, the better I got us at it a little bit. I don't know. Um I think I don't, II wouldn't say I had the same experience. I think what boosted my result. The second time was the fact that I really studied so much more for the clinical and I got really good marks on the clinical and that just pushed up my, my other score cos I II don't think it improved. Like I don't think the SG team improved for me personally and I did M CQ, sorry, not M CQ past medicine and um E Medica um I tried to do so my friend at the time was doing um past medicine and M CQ and we tried to like swap and see, but I it got confusing for me personally because I thought that M CQ was saying different things than past medicine was telling me to do. Yeah. Um and so we didn't do that like we did it for a couple of questions and then we were like, no, I don't think this is going to work and so we stopped to what we started with. Um but I think just for me the second time around, I just focused on a lot more on the clinical and I got really high score on that and then that pushed the score. Yeah. Yeah, I mean that is, that is the key because that's what you have control over. I think. So the SG it can be anything it can. Um So Hanna has said, what would you advise in terms of Q IP ideas that can relate to specialty if you're in gen meed rotations. Um So maybe stuff to do with drugs. Yeah, stuff to do with drugs, uh, stuff to do with ultrasound, I think is good. Um, stuff to do with even uh kind of glycemic control. I think it's good because they consider that um when you're doing your kind of perioperative care modules. Um Yeah, I think it, yeah, it glycemic control antiemetics, like all the stuff that we typically use in anesthetics as well. Um because you're unlikely to be putting people to sleep or using, you know, like induction drugs but, but a lot of the other stuff we would be using. Um so that could very well relate to specialty. Yeah, even if you were to like lead um in my, my psychiatry book, it was hard to kind of, well, I was doing very little clinically but even we just did a teaching session on kind of practical skills for some of the staff. Even simple things like that. Wherever you are, you can kind of find a way um to what type of practical skills. Um So it was just uh like I have access and taking bloods. I found that a lot of staff in, in psychiatry didn't, hadn't necessarily trained in it and we were covering four or five hospitals are on call. So just did AQ IP and kind of leading sessions and getting feedback. Um Yeah. Yeah, that's really useful. So, yeah, anything to do with Cannulas probably is, is a good, but it been running out. Um, where should we do mocks from before the exam? So, I did the uh mocks o on past medicine. I did the ones on M CQ Bank. I did the M sra pass papers and then the UK FP O Foundation papers if, if you have time, I think. Um, But all of these have, have mocks that you can do. Um Yeah. Did you have time to do all of that or did you, did you just start praying quite early? Uh I didn't, II didn't actually prepare within like the three months I had, I think I maybe did it over the less than two months. But I had, I was lucky cause I was able to take off a lot more time in, in my GP rotation. So I sat my exam beginning of January and then I had like Christmas Boxing Day, New Year's all off and GP. So that was it for me. But I'm saying if, if you were in a busy rotation and you weren't necessarily guaranteed that study leave, I would definitely give it 34 months a little bit earlier. Yeah. Yeah, because really this is where everything depends on. If you're not gonna give it your full time, you're not gonna get anywhere. Um Sadly, but yeah. Yeah. Any more questions. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. First I'm, I'm happy to uh I'll just leave my through email, email if anyone wants to ask anything else or need any kind of tips. Um I'm more than happy to help, so I'll just put it there in the chart. Um That's great. Thank you. Um I've also put um a feedback if you guys can, if you found that this was really helpful. Um If you can just leave feedback for, aha, that would be really great. Um And thank you so much. I will see you in another we Oh, sorry, sorry. There's one more question when ranking trust, what resources do we refer to, to ensure we rank properly? Um You can actually go on each trust's website and kind of look at their program. There is also a website um that if you drop me an email, I will kind of try and find and send to you, but it basically collects feedback um from the trainees in each department in trusts. And you can kind of use that when you're considering uh where to work. Um I think I don't, I can't remember what the is it just not the GMC trainees feedback. There's, there's another one, I can't remember what it is. There's the GMC one, but there is also another one where they kind of rank each program based on satisfaction. Um II can't exactly remember where it is fair enough, but I mean, think of so think of not just the the place, but also the deaneries, the, the, the hospitals that you're gonna rotate through. So, like some deaneries, you've only got two or three hospitals and others, you've got a lot more and they're further apart as well. So you're gonna either, you know, find a house in the middle and try and commute either way. Um, or, you know, it's a lot of commuting. I'm in east of England, there's a lot of commuting. Each hospital is at least an hour away from, from the rest of the hospitals. Um So probably bran smaller deaneries rather than big ones. Um And also thinking, do you want to work in a in ad GH or do you want to work in a um like a major trauma center that affect your ranking as well? Yeah. How far do you want to be from major airport? You know, if that's important to you, like I need to go see my family quite often. So London Manchester were that basis for me. So these were important. Yeah, just to try and get some ranking in. But um I probably also should have just mentioned um you are reapplying after your CT one to C D3 all over again for your ST four, which is uh yeah, it's not great but then you do have the opportunity to, to kind of move after that. But just so yeah, I mean, it can be good and bad depending on when you edit the first time. Yeah. Um, any other questions? Ok. Well, that's probably it. Um, and they can send you, um, emails if anyone else has got any further questions. Yeah. Hold on. Thank you so much. No worries. Bye, everyone. And I'll see you soon in a different webinar. Right. Right.