Courses & Conferences
Courses I Attended
I attended a Thoracic Ultrasound and Pleural Procedures course during my time as a Core Medical Trainee which allowed for hands-on experience and the development of my pleural skills.
I also attended the British Thoracic Society Winter Conference and European Respiratory Society Congress [both virtual at the time due to COVID!]. Attending these conferences allowed me to broaden my understanding of the latest research and developments within Respiratory medicine.
Finally, I attended the Royal Society of Medicine’s ‘Introduction to a Career in Respiratory Medicine’ which provided more information on the day-to-day life of a respiratory registrar.
Courses I'd Recommend
I would recommend attending a Career in Respiratory Medicine talk as I think it is useful to hear from Respiratory trainees what it is like to work in the speciality and the opportunities available.
In addition, I think attending a respiratory-based conference is useful to keep abreast of developments within the speciality. Finally, a thoracic ultrasound course is useful to attend as you can start building your ultrasound portfolio.
However, none of these are mandatory and they can be expensive so do not worry if you cannot find a course that suits- there is always opportunity once in training!
How to Maximise Your Portfolio
I would advise them to look at the person specification for Respiratory ST4 and the application scoring both available through the Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment website.
What are the bits of your application that are lacking and are they achievable in the time scale you have?
For example, undertaking a QIP and presenting it may be more feasible than getting a paper through to publication within 6 months.
Set realistic goals and remember that we are not all the same, so don’t compare applications with others and it’s all a level playing field when it comes to the interview!
Making the Most of Your Day Job
Get involved!
There are often a lot of opportunities available but enthusiasm and commitment goes a long way.
Ensure that you are involved in QIPs/Audits at work and in addition, there are often leadership roles that you can undertake. For example, as an F2 and CMT I was a trainee representative.
Making the Most of Respiratory Placements
Let the team know you’re interested in pursuing a career in Respiratory medicine as this can lead to multiple opportunities.
As an SHO I was involved in a COPD steering group looking at implementations of guidelines within the hospital which was invaluable, as well as audits and QIPs.
In addition, when it comes to interview prep more is more and having multiple practice interviewers available is invaluable!
What About Non-Respiratory Placements?
A good respiratory physician is a well-rounded Doctor and I think there are always knowledge and skills to be gained from working in other specialties.
Many of our patients are multi-morbid and therefore knowledge gained from other specialties is invaluable and can provide transferable skills. In addition, sometimes there is opportunity for research within that specialty with a respiratory angle.
For example, I undertook audits looking at acute asthma management when on my A&E rotation and 2-week-wait referral rates when on GP.
Top 3 Tips for Getting Into Respiratory
- Prepare in Advance
Review the ST4 Person Specification and scoring for applications documents and compare them with your CV early- what parts can you add to maximise your score?
- Network
Speak to Respiratory Registrars/Consultants at the hospitals you work in - even if you’re not on Respiratory! There are always projects the team can get you involved in and you can often attend MDTs/Clinics/ Bronchoscopy lists to get a flavour of what working in Respiratory is like
- Practice, Practice, Practice
When it comes to the interview, approach it like an exam. Ensure you leave yourself adequate preparation time and above all else- practice, practice, practice (I cannot emphasise this enough!)
