Clinical Fellow in Thoracic Surgery

UHBW Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in the UK is seeking a Senior Thoracic Surgery Fellow to join its high-volume minimally invasive thoracic service at Bristol Royal Infirmary. The role is designed for surgeons with specialist certification wishing to enhance their skills in complex thoracic procedures. In this 6-month Fellowship, you will gain extensive operative exposure, including advanced techniques and robotic surgery training. The Trust offers visa sponsorship for international candidates for this exceptional training opportunity.

Benefits

Visa sponsorship for international candidates

Opportunity for advanced training in robotic surgery

Qualifications

• Completed specialist certification in cardiothoracic surgery.
• Minimum 2 years dedicated thoracic surgery training with hands-on experience.
• Not suitable for those primarily in general surgery or below registrar level.

Responsibilities

• Participate actively in MDTs and clinical care.
• Contribute to audit, research, and quality improvement.
• Teach junior trainees and medical students.

Skills

Hands-on experience in minimally invasive thoracic techniques

Participation in MDTs and service development

Teaching skills

Education

Specialist certification in cardiothoracic surgery (UK CCT or equivalent)

At least 2 years full-time equivalent thoracic surgery training

Job description

Overview

UHBW invites applications for a senior Thoracic Surgery Fellow to join our high-volume, minimally invasive thoracic service based at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. This post is designed for surgeons who have completed specialist certification in cardiothoracic surgery (UK CCT or international equivalent) and who wish to undertake further focused training in complex thoracic procedures within a centre recognised for its VATS programme, enhanced recovery pathways, and multidisciplinary oncology network.

Fellowship details

This 6-month Fellowship offers extensive operative exposure to major thoracic surgery, including VATS lobectomy and segmentectomy, complex lung cancer resections, airway and pleural surgery, and benign thoracic pathology. The Fellow will also have access to robotic thoracic surgery, with opportunities to participate in and develop experience on the robotic platform as part of the unit’s minimally invasive programme.

Responsibilities

• Participate actively in MDTs, clinics, perioperative care, service development and governance.
• Contribute to audit, research and quality improvement; develop a portfolio of work suitable for publication or presentation.
• Teach junior trainees and medical students.

Qualifications

• Completed specialist certification in cardiothoracic surgery (UK CCT or equivalent).
• At least 2 years full‑time equivalent dedicated thoracic surgery training in a recognised unit, with demonstrable hands‑on experience in minimally invasive thoracic techniques.
• Applicants with a background primarily in general surgery, cardiac‑only practice, or below registrar level are not suitable.

Additional information

The Trust welcomes applications from UK and international candidates and can offer visa sponsorship where required. This Fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for an ambitious surgeon seeking advanced training within a forward-looking UK thoracic surgery service, with access to both VATS and robotic platforms.

About UHBW

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond.

As a forward-thinking multi‑award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world‑leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact.

Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them.

Compliance Statement

Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Contact

For further details/informal visits contact: Name: Igor Saftic, Job title: Consultant Thoracics, Email address: [e-mail]