The VDM talks to to Dr David Hettle, one of our NBT Clinical Teaching Fellows
Work abroad? Locum? Travel? Study a post-graduate course you've been wanting to for a while? There are so many options now for our gaps between training programmes -whether post-Foundation, post-Core training or somewhere else you find yourself off the ladder.
I'm Dave, one of 11 current Clinical Teaching Fellows (CTFs)usually responsible for undergraduate teaching, although much like everyone else we've diversified a little recently. I've spent the last two years as a CTF in Southmead and was asked to give a summary of life as a CTF and some tips if it's something you're interested in now or in the future.
What is a CTF?
CTFs can be doctors at any stage post-F2. Often we are at a gap in training, but some people take an OOPE year to be a CTF. Throughout Severn deanery there are some specialty-specific posts, mainly in Obs & Gynae, but the majority of CTF jobs are very general, teaching all years of medical students while they're on clinical placements from Bristol Medical School – in Southmead that covers from first right through to final year students.
Teaching includes case-based sessions, clinical skills practicals, bedside teaching, simulations and lots of other teaching methods. There is usually a mixture of all the different types each week. Though there is the curriculum that must be delivered, there is loads of scope to be creative as tohow to do this - how to run bedsides, case-based seminars or bring whole new teaching ideas to the table. If you do haveany innovative ideas then Justin and Catalina, the Dean and Deputy Dean, are always supportive and will help make your ideas become a reality. In the last couple of years that has led to a few new projects in the academy: 'therapets' for medical students, 'Virtual-on-call' sessions for final year students and interactive workshops on 'learning how to learn'. Other ideas around the Bristol academies have included medical escape rooms and palliative care simulations.
The 'clinical' part of being a CTF refers to our 80:20 teaching:clinical split. This means I've had one day per week for the last two years to pursue whatever clinical interest I'd like. Your clinical time is entirely up to you what to do with, which means you can gain experience in one specialty if you already know which one you're likely to go into post-CTF, or try out a few different clinical opportunities: clinics, labs, theatres, research for just a few examples. I've done a mixture of lots of them, which has been brilliant for my experience and applications to specialties as I reach the end of being a CTF.
The post also funds you to do a PG Certificate in Medical Education (called Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals) at Bristol Uni. It's a bit different from anything I've studied before (not as science-y, not always a right answer 😬) but again a great opportunity to learn a bit more about teaching, learning and how to be a good teacher, as well as a nice piece of paper to add to your CV.
Why be a CTF?
I started the CTF job thinking of it as a way to come back to Bristol (I'd been in Devon for CMT), build my teaching experience and have something more solid about teaching on my CV. It has been a great couple of years, at a different pace from normal hospital work. Working 9-5 Monday to Friday is a real winner, while gaining teaching and clinical experience I never would have without this job. Alongside doing the teaching certificate I've been encouraged to do educational research and aim to submit research to ASME's (Association for the Study of Medical Education) annual summer conference. Last year we headed to exotic Glasgow to present our work, but other medical education conferences in the last couple of years have been in Vienna and Singapore, so with all the opportunities to do some educational research it is another really great opportunity for you going forwards.
There is more than just teaching to the role - I've also been a personal tutor for over 60 students now, and the pastoral side to the role is one I hadn't really realised before I started. Arguably it's at least as important as the teaching I deliver and has had some challenges but also been really rewarding. If any students are unwell or come to you with issues beyond your control, the senior team in the academy are always there to support students and signpost how to best to support people. Recently we've also been looking into how to connect medical student wellbeing more closely to the excellent staff wellbeing services there already are in NBT, and post-pandemic that will continue to be developed further.
2018-19 CTFs at the ASME Conference in Glasgow
What can you do if you'd like to be a CTF?
All of us have been through medical school and been taught by a huge variety of different teachers, both good and bad. The more CTFing I've done, the more I've realised good teachers weren't necessarily those who knew the most about their subject, but probably those that helped me learn the most. If you're looking to be a CTF in future, taking part in regular teaching is really important – it's good for your CV if you apply for any teaching post, but it also means you will already have worked on and developed your abilities in teaching. If you haven't done much teaching, don't worry, there are always opportunities to teach medical students in Southmead - you can get in touch with northbristolacademy@nbt.nhs.uk to find out more about them.
Take chances to teach and get feedback when you can from the people you're teaching and learning with. There are a few (free if you're teaching Bristol medical students) short courses at Bristol University called Foundations in Medical Education, which give you a brief basis in teaching theory and excellent courses in NBT run by SimSpace (simspace@nbt.nhs.uk, twitter: @SimSpaceBristol) to gain some accreditation. Job adverts for CTFs are usually advertised on NHS Jobs around January-March each year so keep an eye out for them there (it's earlier than you might expect...I was lucky someone dropped out a couple of years ago and I snuck in a 'Round 2 Application' in April). Most of all do as much teaching as you can around your normal job.
Overall, it's a brilliant job, great on many levels, working with a great team in the academy and closely with the post-grad medical education team as well in L&R. Give me a shout if anyone's interested in hearing any more and I'd love to help out.
Dave
david.hettle@nbt.nhs.uk, twitter: @dave_hettle
Keep up to date with the academy via email updates (students aren't back in Southmead until September at the earliest...to be confirmed) – register your interest at northbristolacademy@nbt.nhs.uk or on Twitter @NBris_Academy
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