This free* national event, aimed at all consultant surgeons appointed within the last 24 months can be the jump-start you need.

We aim to provide you with guidance and support on the transition from trainee to consultant, while reinforcing your knowledge on patient safety and highlighting the many roles and opportunities that are available for you to take advantage of as a consultant surgeon.

Chaired by RCS Council member Richard Kerr, the day will include sessions on:

•    succeeding as a new consultant;
•    the consultant and the wider NHS;
•    patient safety and your success;
•    progressing your career.

Breakout sessions

There will also be a part of the day to get involved in smaller breakout sessions, giving you an insight into specific topics and a chance for in-depth discussions:

1. Clinical incidents and complaints.

2. Setting up a private practice while fulfilling your NHS responsibilities.

3. Research and conducting clinical trials.

4. Putting together a business case/ proposals.

Drinks reception 

We are delighted to be hosting an evening drinks reception at the Royal College of Physicians.

The evening will be a fantastic opportunity to network with your fellow peers and learn more about becoming a new consultant. 

For further details of the day have a look at our current programme

Richard Kerr

Chairing the day and speaking on The Future of Surgery

A consultant neurosurgeon at Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where he specialises in general neurosurgery, skull base surgery and vascular neurosurgery.

Mr Kerr is the immediate past president of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons and RCS Council member and trustee. He was Co-Principal Investigator in the MRC-funded International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT). The publication of this trial has led to a global change in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, with invitations to speak to learned societies from all over the world

Muntzer Mughal

Discussing how to cope with change

Professor Muntzer Mughal is honorary Upper GI surgeon at University College Hospitals London and Joint Chief Medical Officer for the UCLH Cancer Collaborative. Since his first consultant appointment in 1989 he has worked in different hospital settings in the North West and London.

Over the last 20 years has led transformation and major reconfiguration of surgical and cancer services in the North West of England and London. His current role involves system-wide improvement of cancer services including early diagnosis, better treatment pathways, survival and patient reported outcomes.

Jennifer Dixon

Speaking on her view of the next five years in the wider NHS

Jennifer was Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust from 2008 to 2013. Prior to this, she was Director of Policy at The King’s Fund and was the policy advisor to the Chief Executive of the NHS between 1998 and 2000. 

Originally trained in medicine, Jennifer practised mainly as a paediatrician prior to a career in policy analysis. She has a Master’s in public health and a PhD in health services research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

In 2009, Jennifer was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. She was awarded a CBE for services to public health in 2013, and a Doctor of Science from Bristol University in 2016. She has held visiting professorships at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the London School of Economics, and Imperial College Business School.

Chris Lake

Speaking on The Consultant's leadership role

Chris works with individuals, teams and whole organisations in the design and delivery of award-winning professional leadership programmes, organisation development (OD), systems leadership, senior team and board development, and coaching executives.

He is Programme Director at London Business School, and a Visiting Fellow at a number of universities.

Previously, Chris was Head of Professional Development at the NHS Leadership Academy, Senior Leadership Consultant and interim Deputy Director of Leadership at The King’s Fund, and Executive MBA Director at Roffey Park.  His prior commercial and management experience was gained in the retail sector.

Peter Hutchinson

Talking on research and conducting clinical trials in a breakout session

A Professor of Neurosurgery, NIHR Research Professor and Head of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Cambridge, he is Director of Clinical Research at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

He has a research interest in surgical clinical trials, registries, device development, and global surgery. Peter has also co-authored over 450 publications (including NEJM and Lancet) and been lead applicant in over £12m of grants (including MRC and NIHR). He is committed to raising the profile of surgical research within the UK and internationally.

Leslie Hamilton

Discussing operating within the law

Leslie trained in Belfast, Leeds, Great Ormond Street and worked in Newcastle. He retired early as a cardiac surgeon, largely because of the pressure of the transplant rota.

He has always felt that doctors should have a better understanding of medical law and this prompted an LLM in Medical Law. He had the great fortune to be appointed as an Assistant Coroner before the law was changed in 2013 - doctors can no longer be appointed as Coroners. 

Kenny Webster

Exploring how you can progress your career by teaching on courses

Kenny joined RCS as Head of Learning Operations in 2017 having previously worked in the world of Science Museums for 13 years and as a research biochemist before that.

Kenny’s current role is to lead the delivery of courses at the RCS and inform the development/ redevelopment of these and new courses as opportunities arise. The role of teaching faculty is central to the delivery of courses and one of Kenny’s personal missions is to maximise the benefits of teaching for faculty.

Saswata Banerjee

Speaking on all the advantages of becoming a surgical tutor

Sas is a Colorectal Surgeon and has led Education & Training at his Trust for General Surgery since starting as a consultant.

He became the Surgical Tutor in 2016, with his department facing the challenge of withdrawal of Foundation trainees by HEE, together they developed a Transformation Plan enabling the reintroduction of Foundation trainees. The Transformation Plan has been adopted by HEE since as Best Practice for Surgical Training in Foundation years.

On the Education & Training front, Sas is the SAC liaison member for West Midlands and an examiner for the RCS. At present , he is the Specialty Lead for Endoscopy and Joint Lead for Gastroenterology working with colleagues within the Division to create a GI Unit which aims to be a centre of excellence for North East London. 

For further details of the day have a look at our current programme