Rheumatology

Quick Links:

External Links:

Rheumatology is an excellent career choice for those who enjoy the challenges of clinical medicine. It offers clinical diversity and career flexibility with opportunities to develop practical skills in joint injection and musculoskeletal ultrasound.

The specialty is also ideally suited to the development of subspecialty clinical, academic or educational interests and high levels of job satisfaction are reported by UK rheumatologists.

Rheumatology - trainee characteristics

Rheumatology will suit trainees who are:

stimulated by the challenges of diagnosis, and treatment of diverse conditions affecting a wide range of systems and age groups
interested in the link between basic science research, disease aetiology and development of 'cutting edge' therapeutic agents
committed and motivated to support patients with chronic disease.

Summary of the specialty

Rheumatology is one of the most exciting and varied medical specialties. The rheumatologist relies heavily on basic clinical skills to diagnose diverse conditions ranging from regional soft tissue problems, to complex multisystem diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue disorders and systemic vasculitis.

The clinical skills of the rheumatologist are widely respected and often called upon when faced with the most complex diagnostic challenges. Team-based working is the norm in rheumatology, thus promoting a supportive environment for trainees.

Opportunities for diversifying training

There are numerous opportunities to develop sub-specialty interests in clinical, scientific or educational fields, and many rheumatologists become national and international leaders in each of these areas.

There are extensive opportunities for collaborative working with colleagues in primary & secondary care and the scientific community. Most of the workload is planned outpatient and day case based, and as such lends itself to an excellent work-life balance.

Competition

ST3 rheumatology posts are competitive and attract high calibre trainees. While prior experience in rheumatology is desirable, demonstrating a commitment to the specialty is essential.

Dual training

On appointment to an ST3 post, approximately half of trainees undertake a five-year programme to dual accredit with general internal medicine (GIM). The remainder undertake a four-year training programme in pure rheumatology.

Upon completion of training, about 70% of consultants in the UK currently practise pure rheumatology. Rheumatology is one of the few specialties where there is still a reasonable balance between the number of trainees and the availability of consultant posts in the UK.

In summary: rheumatology offers academic stimulation, clinical diversity, excellent career prospects and a good work-life balance.

Applying to ST3 rheumatology

In 2012, recruitment to ST3 posts in rheumatology will be coordinated via a 'clustered' deanery process.

England & Wales will be divided into five units of application (UoAs), comprising the neighbouring deaneries in those areas. One of the constituent deaneries in each UoA will lead on recruitment in that region.

By 'leading' on recruitment, this means that the lead deanery will receive and manage applications, host interviews, field candidate queries, and manage and make offers on behalf of all deaneries within that UoA.

‹ Click here for further information on 2012 rheumatology recruitment ›

Rheumatology units of application

Below are listed the five UoAs recruiting to rheumatology posts in 2012, and their constituent deaneries:

'Northern' UoA

Please apply to the 'Northern' UoA if you wish to apply for posts in any of the deaneries below:

Northern (lead)
East Midlands
Yorkshire & Humber.

'North Western' UoA

Please apply to the 'North Western' UoA if you wish to apply for posts in any of the deaneries below:

North Western (lead)
Mersey.

'Wales-SW' UoA

Please apply to the 'Wales-SW' UoA if you wish to apply for posts in any of the deaneries below:

Wales (lead)
Severn
South West Peninsula.

'Wessex' UoA

Please apply to the 'Wessex' UoA if you wish to apply for posts in any of the deaneries below:

Wessex (lead)
Oxford
West Midlands

'London' UoA

Please apply to the 'London' UoA if you wish to apply for posts in any of the deaneries below:

London (lead)
East of England
Kent, Surrey & Sussex (KSS)

Applications

When submitting an application for a rheumatology post, candidates will be able to choose any of the five UoAs above; and can submit a maximum of two applications in total. All applications made will be regarded as entirely separate from, and independent of, each other.

So for example, a candidate could submit one application to the Northern UoA, and another to the London UoA. In theory, they could be interviewed for both applications, and potentially receive a post offer from both. How likely or otherwise this is will depend on application numbers, interview capacity, etc.

Post preferences

More specific candidate preferences (on deaneries, trusts, rotations, etc.) will be taken at the interview stage.

Candidates will be able to give preferences on all posts available throughout the constituent deaneries within a UoA. So within the Northern UoA, for example, a candidate could give preferences on as many or as few of the posts available within the East Midlands, Northern and Yorkshire deaneries as they wished.