151 Development of a formalised framework for the National Transplant Surgery Mentorship Programme (NTSMP)

Abstract Introduction Despite evidence supporting the benefits of mentorship for surgical trainees, there is no formalised mentorship programme for UK transplant surgery trainees. This survey aimed to assess the current mentorship landscape and gather views on the proposed National Transplant Surgery Mentorship Programme (NTSMP), endorsed by the Herrick Society. Methods A comprehensive electronic survey was disseminated to UK doctors involved or interested in transplant surgery, focusing on the prevalence and impact of mentorship, and gathering views on the proposed NTSMP. Results Of the 75 respondents, 94.6% agreed that a formal mentorship programme would be beneficial. Half of the respondents were surgical trainees, with 65% in the ST1-6 grade. Kidney transplantation was the most common area of interest (37.3%). Notably, 76% did not have a mentor, and only 8% felt their mentorship expectations were met. While 40% had prior mentoring experience, only 10.7% had formal mentor training. Respondents preferred virtual meetings every four months, and 48% cited the lack of an established programme as the main barrier to mentorship. Discussion This survey underscores the strong need for a formal mentorship programme in UK transplant surgery. Since its completion, significant progress has been made, including BTS endorsement for the NTSMP, identification of 12 national mentors from across the UK, securing funding for mentor training, and organising the inaugural mentor-mentee meeting at the BTS conference in 2025. These efforts aim to address existing challenges and establish a robust mentorship framework to support the development of future transplant surgeons through the NTSMP.