Getting into cardiothoracic surgery as a student
Nobody expects a medical student to have a finished CV. What helps is showing sustained, genuine interest and a few concrete things you followed through on.
Spend time in theatre
Email the cardiothoracic secretaries or a registrar and ask to observe a list. Be specific about dates.
Go to the morning meeting and the ward round if you can. You learn the decision-making there.
Keep a simple logbook of what you've seen and scrubbed for.
Do one thing properly
An audit or quality improvement project you finish beats three you start.
Case reports and retrospective studies are realistic first projects. Ask a registrar what data already exists.
Present at a student or national meeting, then aim to publish.
Know the pathway
In the UK, cardiothoracic surgery is recruited nationally, with entry at ST1 (run-through) and at ST3.
Check the current person specification and portfolio scoring every year, because they change.
Elective, intercalated degree, prizes, teaching and leadership roles can all count for something.
Look after yourself
It's a long training pathway. Speak to trainees about what the job is actually like, not just the operations.
St George's Cardiothoracic Surgery Society, City St George's, University of London.