Standards for Surgical Training
The Faculty has developed a set of Standards for Surgical Trainers, mapped to the seven domains of the Academy of Medical Educators framework and written specifically for the surgical context. These standards define what excellent surgical training looks like in practice and provide trainers with a clear framework for evidencing their contribution to surgical education. They are the foundation on which everything else the Faculty does is built.
Standards for Surgical Training
Click the button below to learn more about the Standards for Surgical Training and download the standards document.
Learn moreCommunity of Practice
Membership of the Faculty connects you with a growing community of surgical trainers across the UK and internationally. Through our annual conference, webinar programme and peer networks, members share expertise, exchange ideas and support one another in the day-to-day realities of training the next generation of surgeons. The Faculty endorses the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) as a valuable tool for surgical trainers and provides guidance to help members make the most of it.
Education, Events & Research
The Faculty provides education and development opportunities for surgical trainers at every stage of their career. Our annual conference brings the training community together around the issues that matter most, and our webinar programme offers accessible, practical learning throughout the year. Through our joint grant programme with the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME), we fund research that advances the evidence base for surgical training and supports members in contributing to scholarship in the field.
Advocacy
The Faculty represents the interests of surgical trainers at a national level, working with and through the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to engage with the GMC, the Joint Committee on Surgical Training and other bodies. Together, we work to ensure that the voice of the training community is heard in the decisions that shape surgical education, raise the profile of surgical training as a professional discipline, and secure the recognition and support that trainers deserve.
Professional Recognition
The Faculty recognises the commitment and contribution of surgical trainers through Associate, Member and Fellow awards, assessed by peers against defined criteria. Members and Fellows are entitled to use the post-nominals MFSTEd and FFSTEd respectively. The Faculty also awards the FST Medal to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to surgical training and education.