Head & Neck Microvascular Reconstruction Fellowship
At UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) our success starts with you.
This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest and most successful Foundation Trusts in the UK, with an international reputation and a strong tradition of innovation.
Based in the busy West End of London, UCLH offers a lively and vibrant working environment, with excellent transport links across all hospital sites. Our size and resources enable us to provide a wide range of attractive benefits, alongside extensive education and professional development opportunities for staff at all levels. This includes a broad portfolio of academic and clinical programmes, ranging from continuing professional development to clinical excellence and leadership training. UCLH is committed to investing in its staff, both in terms of career progression and staff health and wellbeing.
We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to recruit one full-time Senior Trust doctor to join the Head and Neck Surgical specialties. The post is expected to commence in January- February 2027 and will be for a period of 12 months.
This fellowship is specifically designed for a surgeon who already has significant prior experience in Head and Neck oncological and ablative surgery and who wishes to further develop advanced skills in reconstructive microsurgery and complex Head and Neck reconstruction.
The successful candidate will be expected to have a solid foundation in the assessment and surgical management of Head and Neck cancer prior to commencing the fellowship. Applicants should already be familiar and competent with core Head and Neck ablative procedures, including neck dissection and major oncological resections. The primary educational focus of the fellowship is therefore not basic training in Head and Neck ablative surgery, but progression towards greater experience and competence in microvascular free tissue transfer, flap harvest, microvascular anastomosis, reconstructive planning and the management of complex reconstructive cases.
The post holder will provide care for both Head and Neck and Maxillofacial patients. The rota and clinical timetable provide substantial exposure to major Head and Neck cancer surgery and reconstructive free flap surgery, with approximately 12 major reconstructive cases performed per month. There will also be opportunities for exposure to facial trauma and aesthetic facial surgery.
The fellow will work within a high-volume multidisciplinary Head and Neck oncology and reconstructive service and will be encouraged to develop progressively greater responsibility in complex reconstructive surgery, according to their previous experience, technical ability and progression during the fellowship.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
- University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
- University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
- University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
- University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Please note, due to anticipated high volumes of applications, this vacancy may close earlier than the listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application
Applicants will also be encouraged to participate in the extensive teaching, research, audit and service improvement activities undertaken within UCLH and its academic collaborations. Opportunities can be tailored, where possible, to the fellow’s individual development requirements and the needs of the service.
The on-call rota operates as a full-shift system covering Maxillofacial admissions.
We particularly encourage applications from dual-qualified doctors, or candidates with equivalent relevant training, who intend to pursue a specialist career in Head and Neck oncological and reconstructive surgery.
As this is a Senior Trust Doctor position with a strong emphasis on advanced reconstruction and microsurgery, applicants must have meaningful prior experience in Head and Neck ablative surgery. Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience in procedures such as neck dissection and major Head and Neck cancer resection. Previous exposure to reconstructive surgery is desirable; however, the fellowship is specifically intended to provide further structured experience in complex reconstruction and microvascular free flap surgery.
The post is therefore most suitable for a surgeon who has already established their core ablative Head and Neck surgical skills and is now seeking focused, high-volume experience in reconstructive microsurgery and advanced Head and Neck reconstruction.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
- UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working .
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
