CSOS
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Trainee Opportunities

 

Military Fellowships

 

Fellowships can apply the finishing touches to a chosen sub-specialty career. Through many years of military T&O, trainees have completed such fellowships. Networks of available opportunities can be found below.

 
Fellowship Information
Lt Col Mike McErlain

Mike McErlain Travelling Fellowship

The Mike McErlain Travelling Fellowship in memory of Lt Col Mike McErlain who tragically passed away in 2013. This fellowship is up to a value of £2000 to contribute towards travel and subsistence to an international centre. This fellowship is open to all serving members of the Society, including reservists.

Applications should be submitted directly to the DCA. Applications are now open and the deadline for applications are 24 April 2026. The successful fellow will be announced at CSOS 2026.

Please see “Fellowship Information” for further information

Future Leaders Programme

boa - Future leaders programme

The FLP, which has evolved from the BOA Clinical Leaders Programme (CLP), aims to create an alumnus of leaders with the ability to improve the delivery of clinical care and to influence positive change within the profession by equipping them with the advanced leadership skills necessary to excel. The programme is: 

  • A one year programme

  • Aimed at senior trainees (ST8 or above), newly appointed consultants, SAS surgeons and post-CCT surgeons.

  • The structure of the programme comprises four, 2-day face to face events over the 12-month period, supplemented by self-directed Action Learning Sets..

  • A significant innovation/improvement project delivered by each future leader for either their Trust or Specialist Society strategic change agenda.

  • Facilitated by Hiro Tanaka (BOA Vice President-Elect), Lisa Hadfield-Law, Joanna Maggs and James Tomlinson.

The cost of the programme for 2026-27 is £3,450 (plus VAT) per fellow. Invoices will be issued once a successful fellow is confirmed, and all invoices must be settled before the participants will be included in the pre-course preparation, with module 1 commencing on 19th October 2026.

For any military applicants that are successful in applying for the FLP, then a CSOS funding application should be submitted to the CSOS Secretary with a one page "Why Me?" statement describing why you are the right candidate for the programme, want you want to achieve by undertaking the programme and how you, the cadre and Defence will gain from you doing it.

CSOS is willing to fund up to 50% of the programme cost (not T&S) for ONE successful applicant who will be determined after a panel review of any applications made that have been accepted by the BOA. If applications are limited and/or of inadequate quality, then no funding award will be made that year.

Further details, including how to apply, are now available via the BOA website, including a downloadable flyer with full details at:  (https://www.boa.ac.uk/learning-and-events/courses/boa-future-leaders-programme.html). Applications should be made direct to the BOA via their application portal in the above website, but please inform me via secretary@csos.org.uk if you are planning to request CSOS funding support.