Spinal Senior Clinical Fellow

Job overview

Fellowship in Spinal Surgery Fixed term for 12 months commencing September 2027

The Spinal Surgery unit at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital has one of the largest adult spinal deformity services in the UK dealing with adult degenerative conditions, revision spinal surgery and primary spinal tumours.  It also provides a surgical service for children’s deformity, spinal injuries, spinal infection and metastatic spinal cord compression.

This particular fellowship offers exposure to a wide range of degenerative, adult deformity and revision surgery with specific reference to minimal access techniques as well as computer navigated spinal surgery.  The fellowship is primarily with Mr Robert Lee.

The fellowship is designed to provide skills and competencies above and beyond what is currently required to obtain a CCT in spinal surgery.

Applicants should either have the CCT (or equivalent) or be close to obtaining it.  Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) will be required.  Applicants should already be experienced in spinal surgery.  Demonstration of a commitment to training in spinal surgery, good communication and team working skills are essential. Other experience in the form of audit or research is desirable.

Main duties of the job

This fellowship year will provide specialist training in adult degenerative conditions, adult deformity, revision spinal surgery, navigated spinal surgery with some exposure to primary and metastatic spinal tumours.

They are expected to develop knowledge clinically and surgically over the year. The aim is to prepare the successful candidate for complex adult degenerative, deformity and revision spinal surgery at consultant level.

The fellow will also develop knowledge and leadership in order to take a leading role as a Consultant in a department dealing with complex spinal conditions and their sequel, which, with altered life style, expectations and medical advances means that spinal surgeons are expected to handle increasing complex cases. The fellow will develop the communication skills and attitudes to set them up for Consultant practice in a centre of excellence to enable them to develop their skills further and train the next generation of spinal surgeons.

During the fellowship, emphasis will be placed on many facets, not just the technical aspects of surgery and performance of outpatient clinics but also on leading the MDT, coordination, and management including discharge planning etc.

The fellow will also collect audit data and be expected to prepare and deliver lectures at national and international meetings. They will be expected to prepare manuscripts for publication in peer review journals, based on work currently being performed and ongoing within the department.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The duties of the fellow include MDT administration and delivery for tertiary referrals, Pre and post-op ward rounds, Surgical multidisciplinary procedures, Adult degenerative spine clinics, Out-of-hours support of patients in the spinal injuries unit and partaking in the on-call rota which does not have residential night duties, Clinical research including data collection and audit, Preparation of abstracts and papers for presentation and publication. The post is dedicated to the development of high level clinical and research experience in the field of spinal deformity correction and degenerative spine surgery.

Specifically, the fellow is expected to attend two all day operating sessions in spinal surgery (one day is based at the Wellington Hospital) and two spinal clinics per week. The fellow is also expected to see all in-patients under his/her care on a daily basis and get involved in all aspects of their care. Additionally, the fellow will prepare a surgical plan for each patient. Participation and presentation of interesting/complex cases at the weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings for spinal deformity, degenerative spine surgery, and spinal trauma/tumour, is mandatory.

In addition to routine clinical commitments and research session the fellow may also be called upon to formally teach MSc students, specialist registrars and more junior trainees.