Portfolio Pathway podcast series

This is a special podcast mini-series focusing on the portfolio pathway (previously referred to as the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration - CESR) , which is the process that enables doctors who don't hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) to join the GMC's specialist register and therefore be eligible to take up substantive consultant posts.

We have created this mini-series to support existing portfolio pathway applicants or for those interested in applying for specialist registration through the portfolio pathway. The series consists of 5 episodes as below:

Introduction to the portfolio pathway and this series
Non-clinical domains
Clinical domains
SIA's
Assessor viewpoint

Related information:

Dr Ashwini Keshkamat

Dr Ashwini Keshkamat qualified in 2002 in India and completed anaesthetic training in the cities of Mumbai and Bangalore in 2009, where she was awarded the Gold Medal at the National Board of Examinations.

She arrived in the United Kingdom in 2011 and has been working as an SAS doctor at Dartford since 2013. She has recently been appointed as a Specialist anaesthetist in April 2025 and now works as an autonomously practicing anaesthetist at Darent Valley Hospital.

Dr Sue Walwyn

Dr Sue Walwyn is currently an anaesthetic consultant in Yorkshire, Chair of the Portfolio Pathway Development and Innovation group, and Lead Regional Advisor, preceded by long standing involvement in education and teaching. Has had the honour of being educational supervisor, college tutor and Training programme director whilst taking trips out to school and being faculty in medical outreach and Anaesthesia outreach programmes. Loves the outdoors and exploring new places but not opposed to sitting with a coffee and a good book.

Dr Nirmala Soundararajan ‘Nimmi’

Nimmi is the Training Programme Director (TPD), Health Education England (HEE) Yorkshire and the Humber. She was appointed in June 2014. She was a Primary FRCA Examiner from 2015 to 2017 and has been a Final FRCA Examiner since 2017. She was appointed as the Linkman scheme coordinator for the APAGBI in May 2016 and the Regional Adviser, Anaesthesia, for North and East Yorkshire School of Anaesthesia in November 2018, posts she still holds to date. She was a SEAUK Council member from October 2015 to October 2019. She believes in inclusion, collaboration and sharing of best practice. She received the RCOA Trainer Award in 2017.

Dr Ahmed Elhodaiby

Dr Ahmed Elhodaiby is a member of the Portfolio Assessment Group at the Royal College of Anaesthetists and a Consultant Anaesthetist at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust.

He has special interest in trauma and regional anaesthesia, and is particularly focused on supporting CESR applicants across West Yorkshire.

Dr Ahmed Abdelhafiz

Dr Ahmed Osama Abdelhafiz is a Consultant Anaesthetist at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. Alongside his clinical experience across multiple healthcare systems, he is a passionate and accomplished medical educator. He is a University Lecturer at Al-Azhar University, where he contributed to postgraduate teaching. In the UK, he serves as the Specialty Doctor Training Lead, coordinating educational activity, supervising trainees, and supporting professional development across his Trust

He is a member of the Portfolio Assessment Group, and the Development and Innovation Group at the Royal College of Anaesthetists, helping shape Portfolio Pathway policy, guidance, and standards. He is also a member of the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLP) Maintenance and Development Group, contributing to the enhancement of the LLP’s utilisation by trainees and supervisors. He is also a member of the Academy of Medical Educators, reflecting his commitment to excellence in clinical education.

With a strong foundation in clinical anaesthesia, leadership, and medical education, Dr Abdelhafiz brings a unique and well-rounded perspective to the professional development routes in anaesthesia. 

Dr Magesh Jayabalan

Dr Magesh Jayabalan is a Consultant Anaesthetist at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust. After completing his MD and DNB (Anaesthesia) in India, he moved to the UK and achieved FRCA by examination.

He serves as Deputy Chair of the RCoA Portfolio Pathway Executive Committee responsible for Portfolio Assessment Groups, Clinical Director for Medical Workforce Development at SWUFT, Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Warwick, and Guardian of Safe Working Hours.

Alongside active clinical practice and a strong commitment to medical education, he is recognised for his strong, inclusive leadership skills. He is passionate about ensuring the Portfolio Pathway remains robust, fair, safe and sustainable, supporting diverse routes to specialist registration while maintaining high standards for patients and secures the future of the specialty.