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!)