SAS Week 2025

Join us as we recognise and celebrate the work of specialty, associate specialist, and specialist (SAS) doctors.

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Between 6-10 October 2025, we’ll be recognising and celebrating the specialty, associate specialist, and specialist doctor workforce alongside NHS Employers and the BMA.

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing new exclusive SAS resources and events, as well as dedicated blogs on SAS careers.

Join our special online SAS event hosted by RCP president, Professor Mumtaz Patel

To kick off SAS Week in style, RCP president Professor Mumtaz Patel will host a lunchtime networking forum on 6 October from 1pm–2.30pm.

Join us for an open conversation about your experiences, priorities and ambitions as an SAS doctor. It’s free to attend and open to all SAS doctors in the UK, regardless of specialty.

This is your chance to:

  • share your views directly with the president of the RCP
  • hear about our work to support and champion SAS doctors
  • discuss the issues that matter most to you and your SAS colleagues. 

Whether you’re an established SAS doctor or newer to the role, your voice matters. Please come ready to share your insights, ask questions and help shape the RCP’s future plans for SAS doctors. 

Register now
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Free leadership training for SAS doctors from the RCP

We’re also excited to offer a free 1-hour CPD approved Leading for collective competence in medical teams session for SAS doctors on 8 October. And remember, we can offer tailored support for SAS doctors.

Get in touch with our education team to explore our flexible and inclusive programmes. 

Find out more

Check out RCP Launchpad, available to non-members for a limited time only

RCP Launchpad is an online resource hub with career support and resources for senior registrars, new consultants and SAS doctors. Usually exclusive to RCP fellows and members, we are making selected resources available to you for free, for a limited time only!

To celebrate SAS Week 2025, we’re adding two unique videos to the platform:

  • My SAS journey: specialty doctor, Dr Tulika Porwal shares insights from her career, exploring the breadth of opportunities and leadership roles available as an SAS doctor, including her role as an RCP college tutor, PACES examiner, and clinical supervisor.  
  • Navigating the portfolio pathway: learn about how Dr Jaideep Kitson progressed the portfolio pathway in south east Wales and how he built an applicant network to support SAS doctors. Plus – receive 5 top tips for your application from portfolio pathway evaluator, Dr Ryan Hobbs.
Access exclusive SAS resources

Explore more

Discover more SAS news stories, blogs and resources here.

Blog
18/10/24
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Stepping off the training treadmill | SAS wellbeing

Dr Nicola Allen, SAS tutor at Hywel Dda University Health Board discusses her decision to leave formal medical training and how becoming an SAS doctor has allowed her to pursue a range of opportunities and focus on her own wellbeing.
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17/10/24
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Using data to tackle inequalities in medicine | Equalities and the Medical Workforce Equality Standard (MWRES)

Professor Anton Emmanuel discusses the importance of MWRES data in providing a monitoring framework for improvement. Anton led NHS England’s Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) programme and joined the NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership in 2023 to lead on the implementation of the WRES in Wales. Anton is also the medical director of publishing at the RCP.
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16/10/24
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Expanding the role of SAS doctors in leadership, training and education: SAS in extended roles and SAS development

RCP SAS lead Dr Naeem Aziz explores the role of SAS doctors and his own experience of success in a leadership role at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
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15/10/24
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RCP celebrates SAS Week 2024 by publishing open letter to the NHS

As #SASWeek24 kicks off, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) SAS lead, Dr Naeem Aziz has written an open letter to NHS organisations across the UK, urging them to support and value the specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctor workforce by offering specialty doctors the opportunity to become specialists.
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15/10/24
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An open letter to the NHS for #SASWeek24

Dr Naeem Aziz, RCP SAS lead, has written an open letter to NHS organisations across the UK, calling on employers to value and support SAS doctors by offering specialty doctors the opportunity to become specialists.
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14/10/24
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Rowing upstream? SAS as a career choice and the SAS Charter

Dr Priscilla Smith, SAS doctor rep for London South explores the feeling of ‘other’ experienced by many SAS doctors, and the breadth skill of skill and knowledge they bring to the NHS workforce.
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25/06/24
SAS Blog

Let’s change the narrative on SAS doctors

Specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors are (along with locally employed doctors) the fastest-growing group in the medical workforce. As the RCP launches new educational and career support guidance for SAS doctors and employers, Dr Naeem Aziz, recently appointed RCP SAS lead, reflects on life in the NHS as an SAS doctor.

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25/06/24
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RCP publishes new educational and career guidance for specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published new educational and career guidance for specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors.

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15/07/21
Doctors in hospital

SAS as viable careers

By Dr Helen Bonwick FRCP associate specialist in palliative medicine at Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and RCP SAS representative for Mersey region.

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