Results of FICM Trainee Representative Election 2022

Published 06/12/2022

We are pleased to announce that Dr Waqas Akhtar, a dual ICM/Cardiology trainee from Harefield Hospital in London, has been successfully elected as our Deputy Trainee Representative. We hope you will join us in congratulating and welcoming them to the Faculty!

Waqas will officially start his term of office at our Board meeting on the 11 January 2023.

Their election statement was as follows: 

AKHTAR, Waqas – Harefield Hospital, London

Nominated by Dr Alex Rosenberg

I am a dual trainee in intensive care and cardiology working in London at ST11 level looking to break a record of years spent as a registrar. Intensive care is a fantastic speciality but there is a lot of about training in the UK that needs to change.
I hope to address several issues with the faculty including: 
  • Continuing down the reduction in quantity but improvement in quality of work placed assessments
  • More career planning rather than tick box annual reviews
  • Examinations that reflect everyday practice and clearer curriculum content
  • Reduction in hurdles and more flexibility for trainees to take out of programme opportunities and pursue clinical areas of interest
  • Easier cross mapping of curriculum for dual trainees
  • Ensuring sufficient airway experience for non-anaesthetic trainees for consultant posts
  • Enforced zero tolerance of bullying and harassment
  • Transparency in allocation location of placements with longer-term notice periods.
Much of this is about respecting trainees as the professionals they are and their right to stability and life outside of work. 
I have a good track record in pursuing changes with organisations in my previous role as chief registrar and hope I can achieve change for the benefit of all trainees. 

Many thanks to all the nominees for applying and to everyone that voted!