Published December 24, 2025 | Updated December 24, 2025
By MedCourse
Useful, relevant, and interesting content for UK Junior Doctors.
About the Author
Jason Lim, ST4 Genitourinary Medicine (GUM), Severn Deanery, Bristol
I studied medicine at Imperial College London, where I did an intercalated BSc in Surgery and Anaesthesia. After my foundation training in South Thames Deanery, I was appointed an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow (Gastroenterology) in West Midlands. I then went out-of-programme for an MRC-funded Clinical Research Training Fellowship. It was during my PhD studies in Liver Immunology that I was drawn towards this specialty.
Courses & Conferences to Attend
- Student and Trainee Association for Sexual Health and HIV (STASHH) monthly online webinars
- STASHH podcast – Sexy Health with STASHH
- British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) conference
- British HIV Association (BHIVA) conference
- Pan London and Kent, Surrey, and Sussex GUM National Taster Day
- STI Foundation (STIF) Course
STASHH was created in 2020 to support medical students and pre-specialty doctors in getting involved with GUM. They run online monthly webinars on interesting topics with key speakers in GUM. BASHH and BHIVA have annual conferences, which are very useful to gain exposure to GUM/HIV and for networking. The STIF course will equip you with fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes for the diagnosis and management of common STIs and to know when and how to refer.
How to Maximise Your Portfolio
STASHH was created to increase recruitment into GUM. They run monthly online webinars and also produce a podcast called ‘Sexy Health with STASHH’ available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. They offer a mentorship scheme to help connect GUM doctors with pre-specialty doctors, which aims to provide opportunities to network within the local GUM community, offer career advice, and bolster portfolios. There is also a STASHH local ambassador who promotes STASHH events and connects pre-specialty doctors to local projects, audits, research, and teaching opportunities. STASHH also runs yearly recruitment events in the form of virtual career fairs. I will strongly encourage doctors interested in applying for GUM training to connect with STASHH on Facebook/Instagram,/Twitter, and contact their local ambassadors. Link to STASHH is https://www.bashh.org/professionals/bashh_groups/51/stashh/public/
BASHH has launched a LOVE GUM website in 2024, which contains all the information needed, ranging from what GUM is, why choose GUM, training pathways, frequently asked questions, and useful resources. Would definitely recommend this!
Making the Most of Your Day Job
It is not essential to have a GUM rotation to have a successful application. It is highly encouraged to arrange to have taster days in GUM clinics so that you gain insights into the diagnosis and management of common STIs. Joining HIV clinics will also be very helpful to observe consultations on starting patients on anti-retroviral medications, as well as routine reviews of people living with HIV on established medications.
Making the Most of Genitourinary Medicine ST4 Placements
Very helpful to be involved in local audits or projects available. It would be useful to join multi-disciplinary team meetings where they discuss complex STI/HIV cases for learning.
What About Non-Genitourinary Medicine ST4 Placements?
As mentioned above, it is not essential to have a GUM rotation. You could still demonstrate your commitment by being involved in STASHH and attending GUM/HIV clinics on your clinic days.
