St Bartholomew’s trainee embryologists pass scientist training programme with distinction
Two trainee embryologists have been the first to complete the Scientist Training Programme (STP) at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The STP is a Health Education England (HEE) and National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) three-year training scheme.
Trainees are employed by an NHS trust for the duration of the programme and spend time in a range of settings, before specialising in the last two years of the programme.
The aim of the STP is to produce graduates who will possess the essential experience required of a newly qualified clinical scientist in the NHS.
Many will work directly with patients and all will have an impact on patient care and outcomes. They will be involved, often in lead roles, in innovation and improvement, research and development or education and training.
A final assessment is normally required, called an Objective Structural Final Assessment (OFSA).
This year, due to the pandemic, the OFSA was cancelled and the trainees were required to write a critical review of their training, an Independent Assessment of Clinical Competence (IACC), and how they meet the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) Good Scientific Practice standards.
Charna Stark and Alice Royle, trainee embryologists at St Bartholomew’s Centre for Reproductive Medicine, passed their Master of Science degrees with distinctions.
Charna said: “The Master's portion of the STP allowed me to meet other trainees during our times at university in Manchester; and I have subsequently made many good friends across the UK who I hope to keep in touch with for many years to come.
“It also gave me so many opportunities to learn new things, visit different places and meet a whole host of important and inspirational people in the field of embryology and I am so grateful for that.”
Alice said: “The training course has allowed me to gain, not just clinical training in my department, but a thorough theoretical understanding behind the work we do, the implications for patients and how our field has advanced and continues to do so.”
“The Masters has greatly benefited me in so many ways; it has provided me with a fantastic network of peers across the UK and allowed me to contribute to the patient care pathway through undertaking a research project.”
Senior embryologist and reproductive science training officer Stuart Adams oversee the training for all Reproductive Science STP at Barts Health. Stuart was Charna and Alice's on-site supervisor for their training and portfolio work and was responsible for assessing their work.
He said: “I know first-hand how much work they have put in over the three years. I am very proud of what they have achieved.
“Both have worked very hard, during difficult times, to achieve their success.
“They also both volunteered and were redeployed to support the Covid wards during the height of the pandemic at Barts Health.”
For further information about the scientist training programme, visit the Health Education England website.