Career progress of temporary lecturers in anatomy: a surgical success story

A questionnaire concerning career progress was sent to 159 previous holders of temporary lecturer posts in anatomy (TLAs) at the University of Manchester (UK) between 1975 and 1992. Replies were received from 123 TLAs, of whom 90% were male and 71% had achieved Fellowship(s) of a Royal College of Surgeons. Of the 86 respondents who had reached career appointments, 72% held surgical posts, 16% were in general practice, 6% were in nonsurgical hospital specialties, and 6% in nonclinical careers. The duration of training for the surgical specialties overall had been 12 years. Postgraduate diplomas and degrees had been obtained by 93% of career post holders. Most respondents (87%) had found the posts to be useful for their ongoing careers, citing improved communication skills and teaching. The positive values of temporary lecturer posts in anatomy are discussed in relation to the declining numbers of medically qualified anatomists, and the implications of changes in postgraduate surgical training in the UK are highlighted.