Foreword

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the August edition of our Deanery Newsletter!

For many of you, this marks your first August as a doctor or as a doctor in training here in Scotland, and I want to extend a warm welcome to you. Transitioning into this new phase of your career is both exciting and challenging, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

This newsletter is our way of keeping you informed and engaged with what’s happening across the Deanery, and we welcome your contributions as well. In this edition, you’ll find articles and resources that I hope you’ll find helpful, no matter where you are in your training journey.

We’ve included a piece on being "New to Training," which I believe will resonate with everyone, whether you’re just starting out or looking back on your own experiences. You’ll also find the latest results from the GMC National Training Survey, which continues to highlight the high standards of medical education and training in Scotland. Your participation in this survey each year is crucial, and I encourage you to share your feedback when the time comes.

For those based in Dundee, you’ll be pleased to know that the Postgraduate Office has moved to the Dundee Dental Education Centre at the Frankland Building, right on the university campus. It’s a convenient location, easily accessible by public transport.

We’re also sharing key takeaways from the Chief Medical Officer’s 2024 Report, which contains important messages for all doctors and dentists in postgraduate training. 

I’m particularly proud to celebrate the achievements within our community, such as Dr. Magdalena Szewczyk-Bieda, who was named the Royal College of Radiologists Junior Radiology Forum Trainer of the Year 2023. Congratulations, Magdalena—this is a fantastic accomplishment!

Additionally, Knowledge Services has developed a popular series of bitesize sessions on Finding Information, with the August-September slots now fully booked. Due to high demand, these sessions will return in January-February 2025, so keep an eye out for more details.

I’d also like to draw your attention to a new video resource from the NES Bereavement Education Programme. The film, ‘Dealing with Death and Bereavement at Work: Perspectives from an Emergency Department Team,’ was developed with our colleagues from NHS Grampian and offers valuable insights that I encourage you to explore.

Finally, we have some exciting updates on Simulation Training. New curriculum-mapped simulation courses have been developed and piloted this year, expanding training opportunities across more specialties.

I hope you find this edition of the newsletter informative and inspiring. We’re all in this together, and I’m excited to see the incredible work you’ll continue to do as part of our community.

If you have work you would like to highlight in this newsletter, contact Scotland Deanery.

Professor Emma Watson
Executive Medical Director, NHS Education for Scotland