Abstract
I did my undergraduate degree at Bristol University – somewhere that is very well known for undergraduate orthodontic teaching. It was very hands on and we even got to do bond ups and see our own orthodontic patients. After I graduated, I stayed in Bristol for further training – I was really lucky and got to do posts in Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Paediatrics and Restorative Dentistry. I loved all the rotations and was nearly swayed to specialise in each one whilst I was doing it. In the end, Orthodontics was the only specialty that felt perfect for me. My exciting training career then took me to Cardiff University, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (Brighton) and Guy’s Hospital.
It was undertaken as a second part to a survey that Tarun Mittal, Gavin Bell and I undertook: Barriers to Post-CSST training in Orthodontics: a survey of trainee perceptions. We are all very passionate about postgraduate training and had noticed that recruitment in certain areas of the country was attracting concerns year on year.
Make part-time training more accessible. Ensure that MDT clinic preparation has an educational benefit and is seen less as an administrative task. Maximise trainee exposure to contemporary orthodontics, junior trainee supervision, MDT clinics and management.
ISFE preparation exposes you to a lot of scenarios that can occur as a consultant, but nothing quite prepares you for being a consultant other than being a consultant. I have learnt the most from all those around me – I am lucky to have great colleagues, as well as past mentors, who have supported me and made me both the Consultant and Orthodontist I am today.
I would like to have my own run-through, or part-time Post-CCST trainee so that I can take on board all the comments that have been made and create a learning environment and experience in which they can flourish.