Clinical Teaching Fellows, the new norm?-Experiences of fellows and education faculty

In the United Kingdom, there is an increasing tendency for doctors in the first 2 years after graduation, to step off the training pathway and take up Clinical Teaching Fellow (CTF) positions. We aimed to explore stakeholder experiences of CTF positions to inform future planning and support.

Individual semi-structured interviews with 10 stakeholders (five CTFs and five education faculty members) from one institution in England were conducted. Interviews explored the participants' views of the CTF position, its benefits and challenges. Inductive thematic analysis was performed.

CTFs and education faculty views strongly aligned and three themes were identified. These were (1) developing a career, (2) developing confidence and competence as a clinical teacher and (3) developing a position that works for all. Participants reported that the CTF position allowed time for specialty decision making and curriculum-vitae strengthening and provide CTFs with the opportunity to work autonomously and to establish a better work-life balance by stepping away from training pressures and focusing on other aspects of life. There were differing thoughts on how the position should be structured, although retaining a clinical role with boundaries to constrain competing responsibilities was important.

A brief hiatus in clinical training, where individuals feel supported to progress personally and professionally and to renew their energy for the next steps of clinical training, seems important. The ideologies of providing the CTFs with autonomy, time to explore options, recharge and form connections with colleagues should be considered when structuring the posts.