Realities of Fellowships: UK and Overseas Perspectives

This episode of WENTS and Friends explores and discusses the lived realities of surgical fellowships, featuring open conversations with Ms Summy Bola and Ms Elinor Warner. Together, they share personal stories, practical advice, and honest perspectives on what it truly means to navigate a high-level fellowship balancing intense clinical learning, career ambitions, and the complexities of life outside the hospital.

Ms Summy Bola recounts her experience at the Royal Marsden Head and Neck Surgical Fellowship, offering a window into both the clinical breadth (including high-volume operating, complex neck dissections, and multidisciplinary teamwork) and the non-clinical realities of childcare, family planning, and household logistics. She emphasises that success in a fellowship depends on proactive communication, strong support systems at home, and the willingness to negotiate both professionally and personally. Summy's insights highlight the importance of arriving well-prepared, taking responsibility for self-development, and embracing the privilege of advanced surgical training. She also addresses the practicalities of managing on-call duties, integrating into new teams, and sustaining family life through flexibility and gratitude.

Ms Elinor Warner shares her perspective from an overseas fellowship in Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand. Her day-to-day schedule is a blend of ward rounds, specialist clinics, and a notably high number of complex theatre cases, including rare trans-labyrinthine and skull base procedures. Elinor explains how the healthcare setting in New Zealand, with less reliance on radiotherapy, provides greater operative exposure for trainees and expands the clinical experience well beyond what might be expected in the UK. She emphasises the importance of seeking out unique learning environments and reflects on the personal and professional growth that results from managing complex cases and adapting to a new system.

Both guests offer concrete, actionable advice: choose a fellowship that aligns with your goals, visit units in advance, speak with previous fellows, and embrace the mindset of a day-one consultant. The combined stories illuminate the dedication, resilience, and self-awareness required to thrive during this pivotal stage of a surgical career.

WENTS & Friends is the official podcast for Women in ENT Surgery UK.
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Email: wents@entuk.org any questions or suggestions on topics you may have for future episodes.

Thank you to all of our guests for this season and to Karl Storz UK and the ENT UK Foundation for sponsoring season two of Went and Friends, the podcast of Women in ENT Surgery.

This season’s episodes are hosted by Alex Ashman. Produced and directed by Heather Pownall @heathershub of Heather's Media Hub Ltd. The podcast was created by Ekpemi Irune. The rest of the team includes Anna Slovick, Katherine Conroy, Marie Lyons, Tanya Ta, and Alex Ashman.

Chapters

• 1:20 Eleanor Warner's Fellowship Experience in Auckland
• 6:01 Family Life and Cultural Insights in New Zealand
• 10:43 Planning and Backup Strategies for Fellowships
• 13:11 Advice for Trainees Considering Overseas Fellowships
• 18:57 Summy Bola's Experience with the Marsden Fellowship
• 23:10 Challenges of Uprooting for a Fellowship
• 27:11 Choosing the Right Fellowship: Key Considerations
• 31:41 Balancing Fellowship and Family Life
• 35:45 Maximising Your Fellowship Experience
• 43:42 Final Thoughts on Fellowship Opportunities