What UK trust have you been placed at? 

West Birmingham and Sandwell Trust

How did you decide to join the ISTP Programme?

As I was doing my surgical training, I saw the need for breast conservation surgery and breast reconstruction after cancer surgery.

I learned about the programme through a colleague who joined a urology fellowship before me in Urology and it was appealing.

How has your journey as ISTP trainee been so far?

The first 5 to 6 months were not as easy as I was learning the systems and procedures and my supervisors were also leaning my capabilities. Once the teething period was done, the training went really well.

What do you wish you knew, before joining the ISTP programme and coming to the UK?

I wish I know more about the initial processes needed like occupational health since this took a while. I also wish I knew about the logbook and portfolio requirements as I initially did very poorly on these.

Has the ISTP Programme helped you with your professional and personal development? 

The programme has helped me in both areas as I feel that I relate with patients better. I am also more focussed personally on my goals and targets.

I got first hand skills on most oncoplastic procedures, which was one of my targets. This could have been better but I am grateful with what I achieved and the only way is up.

I was away from my family (wife and children), and I was visiting on and off. This was the biggest challenge for me and I would not advise one to do it this way.

Would you recommend the ISTP training to your colleagues? Why?

I would recommend this to my colleagues. But I wish there would be someone who has been through the process to guide them closely in the early stages.

It is pretty much like any registrar’s day. Normal working shifts start at 9 am but on theatre days, you have to be there by about 7:30 am for patient check-up, consent confirmation and marking. The rest of the motions are standard. Discussion with consultants is the order of the day. There is quite a responsibility for night cover, decisions need to be made.

There are many differences between working in the UK and Kenya. But I would like to point out punctuality on getting to work as well as the culture of staying on duty while on your shift. Patients in the UK get better explanations on their illness and are involved better in decisions on their care. I cannot forget to mention about a team brief before a theatre list, it is simple yet so vital.

I got three cards from patients, a bottle of wine from another and a bar of chocolates. These were really heart-warming moments.

How are you going to implement new skills and ideas when you return to your home?

I hope to get a position in a teaching hospital where I will be able to pass on the learned skills and practices.

Yes I am, but my wife is a nurse

I knew this in my first foundation year (internship). I enjoyed being in theatre more than any other areas. I felt great being involved in procedures which were life changing. Especially in emergencies where results are almost immediate.

I like to talk about my day with my family and colleagues. I like to watch movies too.

What would you want to be if you were not a surgeon?

May be a dentist? I would not have to do on-calls.

What is your biggest professional and personal dream for the future

Be part of a team to set up a breast unit in Kenya matching the standards in UK and probably a national breast cancer screening programme. This may be hard, but it is possible.

I wish that there will be uniformity in care provision world over. I wish there will be standardisation of care. Africa is lagging behind especially on technology, funding and management of health provision.

British courtesy, I love it.

How do you like to drink your tea?

With a lot more milk than most British. And hot.