People and networks
Which organisations help, and why?
Choose groups for teaching, advice, mentorship or a project. Passive membership is not a current portfolio indicator.
Surgical Royal Colleges and JCST
The surgical colleges offer professional standards and education. JCST advises on UK surgical training; ISCP hosts curriculum and training portfolio. Use these first for pathway and assessment facts.
ASiT
The Association of Surgeons in Training represents trainees across surgery and offers meetings, mentoring, advocacy and routes into trainee research collaboratives. Pick an event or project that fits your stage.
BOTA and branch groups
The British Orthopaedic Trainees Association is useful if orthopaedics interests you. Specialty associations become increasingly relevant as a direction emerges; seek specialty-specific teaching or trainee representation rather than collecting logos.
Local trainee collaboratives
A regional group can offer small, defined audit/research tasks, protocol discussion and mentorship. Agree governance, data access, contribution and authorship up front.
From understanding to practice
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Sources