There’s this subtle pressure during clinical attachments — especially in the NHS — to start ticking off CV-building boxes: audits, QIPs, case presentations, publications. And I get it. They’re important.
But as an overseas doctor, what I’ve found more essential is something far more basic, and yet often overlooked: being able to stand on your own feet on Day One.
You can’t weigh guidelines and governance if you’re still unsure about the basics — how to review a patient confidently, use the EHR efficiently, or simply navigate the system. What made my attachment at ASPH unique was that it gave space for exactly that: a focus on the fundamentals. It was about being safe, competent, and NHS-ready.
And honestly? That foundation is what makes me feel more prepared than any line on a CV ever could.