It’s Specialty and Associate Specialist doctors (SAS) week! SAS week is a celebration to promote and highlight the value of SAS doctors.
As part of the week, Dr Christopher Rowlands, SAS Grade Doctor Anaesthetics, shared his experience of being a SAS doctor. Dr Rowlands has been a SAS doctor at Bradford Royal Infirmary for over 30 years, one of the longest-serving SAS doctors.
Chris explains: “I developed an interest in total intravenous anaesthesia very early on and, with mentorship and encouragement from some of the world’s greatest TIVA practitioners, got proficient. I was delivering an advanced TIVA pharmacology tutorial once or twice a year but that’s on hold at the moment.
I’ve managed to get a bit of a region-wide reputation as a TIVA geek and people have logged into the tutorials from all over. One of my mentors, Frank Engbers from Lieden, logged into my first online tutorial. Terrifying! I’ve also had consultants and SAS from other Trusts visit for a few days in their drive to develop from TIVA competent to TIVA expert. I spoke at the Association congress in Belfast last year about how I was able to develop my TIVA interest as a SAS grade. I was feeling lousy so it wasn’t my best ever outing. It turned out that I had started with my first covid reinfection!
I’ve been lucky enough to introduce a few things into Bradford and I’m grateful to my bosses for their encouragement.
These include the sophisticated syringe pumps required for advanced TIVA practice and to create and maintain the datasets that define their capabilities.
Together with two SAS colleagues we introduced intraoperative EEG monitoring which has been a game changer. I’ve also introduced a few drugs into theatre practice including remifentanil, MgSO4, oxycodone and dexmedetomidine.
I lectured around the country when remifentanil was introduced, helping departments assimilate this radically different drug into practice.
I was elected to become the first ever SAS member of Council of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and served on the SAS committee of the Association of Anaesthetists. The College awarded me the Humphry Davy medal, though I’m sure this was for being daft enough to raise my head above the parapet!”
Meet some of our other SAS doctors
Dr Thomas James (SAS Grade Doctor Anaesthetics and LNC SAS Representative)
Tom was awarded the Association Anniversary medal last year (he’s only about the 4th SAS to receive it). Tom is also the Clinical Governance Lead and is also an Appraiser for the trust.
Dr Smita Oswal (Associate Specialist, Anaesthetics)
Smita is a very active member of the Association SAS committee, organises lots of Seminars and has been awarded the SAS audit and research prize in the past.
Dr Damian Lai (SAS Grade Emergency Department)
Damian has worked in the Emergency Department at BRI for nine years and has been an SAS doctor for five years. He oversees trainees and is the Physician Associate lead for the department.
Dr Anne Pinches (SAS Grade, Paediatrics and SAS Advocate)
Anne is the SAS Advocate for BTHFT: a role that was created to promote and improve support for SAS doctors. Anne says: “When I first left training to become a SAS doctor, I didn’t know anyone else in the same position as me, but I knew that I didn’t want to continue in conventional Paediatric training and leaving was the right decision, albeit one that was a leap of faith!
Since leaving training I’ve met some incredible and supportive people and forged a path for myself and others as an SAS doctor.“
“Whilst I know that I made the right decision it would have been beneficial to have known others in a similar position and have a support network in place in the form of SAS community. I feel that this would have made the transition between roles easier.”
“My aim as SAS Advocate is to ensure that all SAS doctors are recognised and rewarded for the vital roles that they do, highlighting them at a local, regional and even national level.
My goal is to support them at work (ensuring they are on the correct contract, pay scale and highlighting the Specialist grade) and also out of work by providing peer support and helping them to achieve a good work-life balance.“