RCS Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery Fellow (Post-CCT)

Job overview

The fellowship is part of the Royal College of Surgeons (England) senior clinical fellowship scheme and the role has been specifically approved by the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (BAPRAS).

The fellow will have the opportunity to join the plastic surgery team at our local referral centre to observe free flap breast reconstruction, and this will be encouraged to ensure a full spectrum of breast reconstruction is experienced.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will join the highly motivated multidisciplinary breast team based at this high-volume breast screening centre, providing a full range of services for symptomatic and breast screening patients. The Unit treats around 750 breast cancers (50% screen detected) each year in the dedicated breast unit facilities. The fellow will work with the 8 consultant oncoplastic breast surgeons in the unit (16 operative sessions per week) gaining experience and training in complex level 1 and 2 oncoplastic breast conservation techniques. The fellow will also gain experience in skin (+/- nipple) sparing mastectomies, immediate implant-based reconstruction (in conjunction with an ADM) and pedicled autologous reconstruction.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This fellowship will deliver a comprehensive and high-volume exposure to a diverse range of oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgeries, alongside further developing the non-technical skills of the candidate. The position will have elements of service provision alongside addressing individual learning needs through clinical activities such as one-stop new referral clinics, follow-up clinics, oncoplastic clinics, MDT, oncoplastic MDT and theatre lists.

There are 16 sessions of oncoplastic surgery every week, and surgeons offer the entire range of partial and complete breast reconstruction including complex therapeutic mammoplasties, local perforator flap reconstruction, implant-based reconstruction, autologous LD reconstructions, lipomodelling, symmetrisation surgery, nipple reconstructions and tattooing. We have a referral service for free-flap reconstruction.

The successful candidate will develop a personal development plan with their allocated supervisor at the start of the post and identify their intended learning outcomes. There are numerous opportunities for development in Clinical Education, Clinical Research, Governance, Service & Workforce transformation. There will also be the opportunity to arrange and attend meetings/conferences at local and regional levels.

Fellows will be required to complete mandatory interim and final feedback as per RCS monitoring protocol.