Volume 04 / Issue 03 / September 2016
Page 26
boa.ac.uk
JTO Features
Inspiring the best to be better: The BOA Clinical Leadership Programme Hiro Tanaka & Mike Reed
“Before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is about growing others” - Jack Welch
Fellows at the BOA Congress
Where are we now? The BOA Clinical Leadership Programme (CLP) is now in its third year and this year there has been a dramatic increase in the interest and number of applications. The word is spreading regarding the benefits of learning about clinical leadership in the final year of training. To quote one of our previous fellows: “I’ve learnt more about myself in 12 months than in 32 years of my life; I’m going to be a better consultant”. The fellows showcased their quality improvement projects at the BOA Congress - many of which could lead to significant changes within the NHS. The structure of the programme remains unchanged and starts
every October. It consists of four, two-day modules over a 12 month period and takes place in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. This is associated with targeted leadership coaching and completion of a highlevel quality improvement project (JTO article Volume 3/Issue 4). Specialist Society sponsorship As well as trust-funded and self-funded fellows, a number of specialist societies are now sponsoring fellows through a competitive application process. This competition ensures that the best trainees, who would benefit most from the programme, are selected. It also results in quality improvement being spread across a range of specialties. In the
longer term the society may gain from engaging the fellows in the activities of the committees. The selection criteria are based upon the personal statement, CV and, where possible, by direct observation, such as BOFAS who run an Advanced Fellows Forum on an annual basis. The societies taking part in the 2016/17 programme are: British Limb Reconstruction Society, British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, UK Spine Societies Board, British Society for Surgery of the Hand, British Association of Surgery to the Knee, British Orthopaedic Oncological Society and British Orthopaedic Research Society. Looking forward We are pleased to announce that we have appointed the fellows for 2016/17. The programme begins in autumn 2016.
Hiro Tanaka
Mike Reed
All previous CLP fellows will be invited to join the alumni to establish a network to provide support and forward learning for future generations. The quality improvement projects and successes of the fellows will continue to be recognised and showcased annually at the BOA Congress. The best of these will be asked to present their project and outline what they have learnt from their leadership journey.
Why should you apply? The shift from an individual clinician to the leader of a team is a significant one, which requires a change in selfimage, values, behaviour, skills and knowledge. Learning the science of leadership and quality improvement not only prepares a trainee for life as a consultant but helps them excel in that role. Health organisations and CCGs are increasingly recognising that these skills are necessary to promote positive change within the NHS. In keeping with the BOA’s motto, effective clinical leadership ultimately results in improvement in the care of patients. Applicants should be post-CCT clinical fellows, senior trainees (ST8 or above), newly appointed consultants or SAS surgeons when they enter the programme. So, if you are passionate about wanting to improve yourself as a clinician, build effective teams and care for your patients, then take the plunge and apply. n Hiro Tanaka is a Consultant Foot and Ankle Surgeon at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. He is a member of the Education Committee for the BOA and BOFAS. He is a Health Foundation Fellow and is passionate about promoting Clinical Leadership. Mike Reed is an Orthopaedic Surgeon for Northumbria and a Senior Lecturer with the University of Newcastle.