What is Achieving Surgical Excellence for Black Trainees?
Why are we doing this?
Despite the UK's commitment to equality and diversity, Black surgical trainees face significant barriers. These include lack of mentorship, limited networking opportunities, and systemic biases that hinder their professional growth. Addressing these disparities is crucial to ensuring a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce, which is essential for delivering equitable patient care.
From recent GMC data on differential attainment, we know that Black trainees are more likely to fail their postgraduate exams, get worse yearly progression (ARCP) outcomes and are less likely to obtain speciality and consultant jobs than any other large ethnic group. [GMC Tackling disadvantage in medical education 2023].
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We came together as a group of surgeons to create a programme to help address some of the unwritten knowledge needed to help overcome systemic barriers, to achieve excellence in each trainees surgical career not provided just by academic knowledge or physical skill.
Our
Aims
To enhance the experience of surgical black surgical trainees from CT1 to ST8 through collective group mentoring and training
Through our 8 month online programme and face to face meetings we want to provide:
Mentorship and Guidance
Professional Development
Networking Opportunities
Resource provision
Community development
How does it work?
Through a number of online evening workshops dealing with topics such as managing disruptive behaviour, leadership, resilience, career development, research opportunities, and navigating the healthcare system..
Invited speakers will give talks on the topic followed by Q&A.
this is followed by group mentoring sessions where we split in groups to have focussed discussions and analysis about the topics discussed with experienced mentors.
There will also be two formal networking events and a graduation ceremony from the programme to help mentors and mentees connnect and grow the community.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Mentors
We are looking for consultants and senior doctors 11 years + who want to join the mentoring team with minimal regular commitment required!
Some mentorship experience is desired, but not essential.
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You will be helping to facilitate our virtual sessions over the programme, while also being available to be part of our mentor network to connect with trainees.
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Minimum commitment of 3 sessions over the 8 month period.
You will also recieve formal training and certification of participation for CPD.
WHO DO WE WANT TO TAKE PART?
Mentees
We are looking for surgical trainees from CT1 to ST8 to be a part of the programme who believe they will benefit from the experience.
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No specific surgical knowledge or prior mentoring experience required.
We just want you to be able to take something away from the programme and will gain a range of skills and advice including specific leadership and management training and career development advice.
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You will recieve a certification of completion of the programme with a minimum attendance of 5 sessions over the 8 month period at our Graduation event.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.