Post by Dr Daniel McDonald-Smith

I’m going to be a Paediatrician! After a competitive application, shortlisting & interview process, I’m pleased to have been offered- or matched with- Paediatrics in the East of England. ✅ I scored 95% (152/160) at interview. ✅ I received my first offer location. ✅ I ranked 25th nationally amongst interviewees (25/697). All despite a uniquely challenging recruitment year: ‼️Competition ratios were some of the highest on record for Paediatrics with 2680 applications for 476 jobs nationwide, a ratio of 5.63:1 (NHS England). ‼️The shortlisting cut-off score was 86.7% (52/60), the highest in recent years. ‼️Many fantastic doctors were not offered training roles, including me last year (screenshot). I thank God, friends & family as I start this new chapter. Balancing full-time work, projects, post-graduate studies, & personal responsibilities was challenging at the least. It required many early mornings, late nights & silent sacrifices no one likes to mention, while never knowing if your best efforts world be enough in the current employment market. It paid off today but I am always trying to pay it forward. My inbox is always open if you want to talk about research, Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs) &, the best speciality in the world, Paediatrics. 👶🏽 But today at least, I’ll be enjoying the sun, funny collar at all! ☀️ #Doctor #MatchDay #Paediatrics PC: Luke Thompson