Ben Bolland
Consultant
Taunton, South West
Gender / Preferred pronoun
Male
Ethnicity
White Caucasian
Particular qualities / experiences relevant for mentorship
Non medical family background
Elongated SpR training – performed MD with combined research / clinical role
Consultant in teaching hospital with combined Research / clinical role
Changed course to take up Consultant post in SW DGH.
Grades willing to mentor
All surgical trainees at any level
Profile statement
I started my Consultant career at Southampton in 2011. I had a training background with both clinical and research experience and took up a combined Cons post initially.
Subsequently offered a post in a DGH in South West. Learned about the important advantages of good Consultant colleagues, happy vibrant department, with challenging clinical exposure and case mix. The bright lights of a teaching hospital are not necessarily everything they are cracked up to be.
Married with 3 children, rapidly growing up. Important to keep a balance between work and family time – not always easy.
Happy to discuss all these issues – how to path out your career, what are the important aspects of a job, research or not, work / life balance.
I do not propose to be an expert by any stretch but have experience in getting it right sometimes but also definitely wrong (many times!)