I attended the three-day Keele leadership and management course for anaesthetists in May 2016 as an anaesthetic registrar, and subsequently decided to start the postgraduate certificate the following year. It was great to have the flexibility to work through this programme at my own pace, allowing me to fit my academic work around my clinical commitments. As the work for the optional modules I selected could be completed remotely from my home, it too allowed more effective utilization of my time.

The postgraduate certificate has allowed me to better understand the theory behind many quality improvement processes that exist within the healthcare setting. I have been able to incorporate this successfully into my own clinical projects, achieving more significant and sustainable results. Subsequently, I have secured and started my desired substantive post as a consultant anaesthetist. I have no doubt that the lessons I have learnt from the programme and the added value it brought to my application gave me a unique advantage in the process. I would most definitely recommend this course to others hoping to follow a similar career trajectory!