The major objective of the current SpR rotation based at Addenbrooke's Hospital is to foster future academic and NHS leaders in haematology and transfusion medicine. Trainees will be exposed to a top ranking academic and clinical department in Addenbrookes Hospital, while rotating for up to eight months to another regional hospital to ensure a broad exposure to general haematology.
In three years, academic trainees in Addenbrookes Hospital will have three laboratory, two ward, two research and two DGH slots (see above). This will provide the laboratory and clinical haematology experience leading to completion of the Part 1 FRCPath examination. The two research slots meet the 25% academic time required in an NTN(A), and are complemented by six weeks annual study leave, as well as regular research group presentations.
Mentoring for the academic trainees is provided throughout. At appointment, trainees are made aware of the research themes of the department. During regular reviews with the academic mentor, a favoured area of research is identified, along with a preferred Principal Investigator either in Cambridge or in another centre. The PI then leads on developing a project and a fellowship application for funding to pursue a PhD on completion of the clincal fellow post. Academic trainees wishing to switch to a non-academic slot would be considered for the next available vacancy in the clinical training programme.
The second part of the academic training route is a clinical lecturer post which is applied for after completion of a PhD. This post is based entirely at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge where the Haematology rotation has the flexibility to allow both protected time for research and to customise training to suit the needs of post-PhD trainees. The clinical lecturer will identify a research theme to be pursued in the 50% time allocated for research, and will be assigned an appropriate Principal Investigator.
The clinical lecturer post is supernumerary to service needs and can thus occupy slots as required to complete the training portfolio and develop academic experience. The flexible nature of the rotation means that it can accommodate academic post-holders who may join at varying stages of their clinical training.
The clinical lecturer will identify a research theme to be pursued in the 50% time allocated for research, and will be assigned an appropriate Principal Investigator.
Overall mentoring for the academic trainees will be provided throughout. The mentor will undertake assessment of academic progress against agreed milestones in conjunction with both the allocated PI and the designated educational supervisor (consultant haematologist), who ensures that training facilities and opportunities are made available to the trainee and conducts regular appraisals.
In addition to the above academic posts, the rotation has a long and successful history of research with many of our trainees pursuing a further degree within the local world class research environment as an out of programme experience. This is encouraged and supported in the rotation.