26 August 2014
AN ENTERPRISING doctor calling for greater equality in top professions in medicine has become the first ever junior doctor to be jointly presented with the British Society of Gastroenterology President’s Medal 2014 for giving a greater voice to trainees in her field.
Dr Alenka Brooks, a specialist registrar in gastroenterology at Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has picked up the prestigious prize from the British Society of Gastroenterology President’s Medal 2014 along with two other trainees in the UK. The award was bestowed to them for initiatives that have improved national representation of young gastroenterologists, impacting on UK-wide education and training.
Gastroenterology is a specialist field of medicine where doctors diagnose and treat disorders of the digestive system. The majority of those training to work in the field do not secure their first consultant job until they are at least 35 and 69% of consultants are men.
Commenting on the award, Dr Alenka Brooks said: “Gastroenterology is a highly complex area so training to become a specialist is demanding. Ensuring gastroenterology trainees in the UK have a voice in important training issues, great educational opportunities and a chance to receive recognition for their hard work and innovations is hugely important to the speciality, but ultimately to ensuring that people with gut diseases receive the best treatment and management as many conditions have a huge impact on their lives, both physically and emotionally.”
Initiatives put in place by the team over the past three years include: ensuring 800 young trainee gastroenterologists from across the country were represented regionally to support and develop their roles; ensuring training opportunities and jobs were made available to UK trainees within 48 hours via emails and a dedicated newsletter and developing three specialist courses that provide core skills in education, training and management.
A unique ‘taster membership’ and course for doctors who have not begun specialist training was also devised, allowing aspiring gastroenterologists to access key British Society of Gastroenterology research journals and resources at discounted prices and attend conferences.
The work was made possible through the Trainees of Chairs Section of the British Society of Gastroenterology, which has allowed Dr Brooks and her colleagues to make an invaluable contribution to the representation of trainees.
“Through my experiences at the Society I have learnt a vast amount about leadership, which has complemented skills I learnt as a leadership fellow working in the Service Improvement team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The rewards for NHS Trusts in developing trainees as the clinical leaders of tomorrow are huge, and can be aided by engagement with specialist societies,” Dr Alenka Brooks added.
Dr Brooks was presented with her medal earlier this year.
ENDS
Photo: Dr Brooks receiving her award from British Society of Gastroenterology Professor Sir Ian Gilmore.
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Email: claudia.blake@sth.nhs.uk