When I started my ASPH attachment, I didn’t know how much the order of placements would impact my growth.
Beginning with T&O gave me a soft landing — time to explore the hospital, understand the teams, get used to the IT systems. Even though I’d studied UK EPRs years ago as a clinical digital fellow, using them in practice was different. That early phase helped me speed up, observe patient flow, and understand what “safe discharge” actually means.
Then came Acute Medicine — where I got my own patients. I wasn’t just shadowing anymore. I was part of the team. That shift changed everything.
And finally, SDEC — where I was managing patients semi-independently. Cubicles, history, exam, documentation, addressing concerns — all with supervision, but also with trust. The feedback I received from nurses and consultants stuck with me. It wasn’t just about being competent. It was about being ready.
This stepwise structure wasn’t random. It was transformative.