Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery ST3 Interview Preparation Course (In Person)
28th February 2026 (0845 – 1700 hours)
Doctors Academy Institute, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff
About
This one-day, face-to-face ST3 Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Interview Preparation Course is designed to provide focused, high-quality preparation for candidates applying for ST3 Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery posts in England and Wales (March 2026 intake).The course closely mirrors the current national ST3 interview format, with structured practice across the four core stations: portfolio and commitment to specialty, clinical scenarios, prioritisation/management, and communication skills. Candidates will rotate through realistic, commonly tested scenarios under timed conditions, reflecting the pace, structure, and expectations of the actual interview.
The highlight of this course is its high faculty-to-delegate ratio, ensuring that all participants have multiple opportunities to actively practise scenarios and receive individualised, targeted feedback from experienced orthopaedic surgeons and senior interview faculty. Feedback is structured, criterion-based, and explicitly aligned to the 2026 Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery person specification, enabling candidates to understand not only what to improve, but how to score more highly.
The course is aimed at trainees who already meet the essential eligibility criteria and wish to refine performance, structure answers effectively, demonstrate insight and judgement, and present their portfolio with clarity and confidence. The quality and standard of delivery reflect the high academic reputation and educational standards of Doctors Academy, with an emphasis on safe decision-making, professionalism, and excellence in communication.
Aims:
The aims of this course are to:
- prepare the trainee comprehensively for the ST3 Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery interview format for 2026.
- develop the trainee’s ability to structure concise, high-scoring answers under time pressure.
- enhance performance of the trainee across clinical reasoning, prioritisation, portfolio discussion, and communication scenarios.
- provide the trainee with a realistic practice of commonly tested interview scenarios.
- provide focused, personalised feedback mapped directly to national scoring domains and person specification criteria.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, the trainee will be able to:
- demonstrate a clear understanding of the ST3 Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery interview structure, scoring domains, and expectations for each station.
- apply structured frameworks (e.g., SBAR, prioritisation matrices) to deliver concise, logical answers within strict time limits.
- present his/her portfolio, achievements, and self-assessment evidence confidently and coherently, with clear justification aligned to the national person specification.
- articulate a credible and realistic commitment to Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, demonstrating insight into the demands of the specialty and a well-defined career plan.
- demonstrate safe, structured management of common trauma and elective orthopaedic scenarios, including fracture management, septic arthritis, compartment syndrome, and ATLS-based trauma care.
- apply sound clinical judgement, surgical anatomy knowledge, and prioritisation skills appropriate to ST3 entry level.
- effectively prioritise patients, operating lists, and clinical tasks while demonstrating awareness of patient safety, escalation, and resource management.
- manage complex scenarios involving competing clinical demands, uncertainty, and time pressure in a structured and defensible manner.
- communicate clearly, empathetically, and professionally in challenging communication scenarios, including breaking bad news, consent discussions, and managing conflict or underperformance within the team.
- demonstrate insight, reflection, and responsiveness to feedback, showing readiness for higher surgical training.
Quick Information
| Places are currently available. | |
|---|---|
| Date | 28th February 2026 (0845 – 1700 hours) |
| Time | 0845 – 1700 hours |
| Venue |
Doctors Academy Institute, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff |
| Course Fee | £97.00 |
| Closing Date | Places will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis and therefore we are unable to provide a precise closing date. |
| No of Places | 16 |
