SAS Week 2025
SAS Week celebrates specialty, associate specialist and specialist (SAS) doctors and runs from 6–10 October 2025.
SAS doctors are essential to the NHS, our specialty and our College. SAS and locally employed doctors are the fastest growing groups of doctors in the UK, contributing vital expertise, innovation and high-quality patient care.
The College benefits from the expertise and leadership of our SAS members across the full range of our work. SAS members are represented on Council by our elected colleagues, Dr Ashwini Keshkamat and Dr Kirstin May, and supported by a dedicated SAS Committee. Together, they lead our work to improve SAS career progression, recognition, professional development and wellbeing.
“#SASWEEK25 has become an annual fixture in the calendar, celebrating the contribution of SAS doctors to the work of our NHS. Many employers use this week as an opportunity to celebrate their SAS doctors' achievements and contribution, by showcasing individuals and teams. SAS doctors use #SASweek as an opportunity to come together, celebrate and network. As in previous years, there will be many local and regional SAS events, enhancing the profile of the SAS community.
Happy #SASweek2025!”
— Dr Kirstin May, SAS Doctor Representative
“With more than 1,850 SAS anaesthetists working across the UK – many of them members of the College – this is a community we are proud to celebrate during SAS Week and to support throughout the year.
The range of skills, perspectives and experience of SAS anaesthetists is vital to the strength and success of our specialty.”
— Dr Claire Shannon, President
Supporting SAS career progression and leadership
Here are some examples of our recent work to support our SAS members.
- Guidance on demonstrating clinical autonomy within the context of the 2021 reform of the specialty doctor grade.
- Best practice guidance on supporting doctors outside formal training programmes, including SAS, locally employed and Medical Training Initiative (MTI) doctors.
- Portfolio pathways podcast miniseries, for SAS doctors and others considering this route to join the specialist register.
- Maximising career progression guidance within our Training Hub.
You can find links to more SAS resources and updates on our SAS page.
Autumn 2025 Bulletin
Our Autum 2025 Bulletin is an SAS special issue, guest edited by Dr Ashwini Keshkamat and Dr Kirstin May. It’s packed with interesting and informative articles, including first-hand accounts of becoming a specialist and of completing the portfolio pathway. Our SAS authors also highlight the role of organisational culture and employers, as well as SAS leaders in gaining greater recognition and progression for SAS doctors.
Share your SAS experience
In 2022, we began a campaign to raise the profile of SAS doctors by encouraging members to share ‘Day in the Life’ profiles. We’re grateful to our SAS members who have contributed their inspiring stories, which we have published on our website and shared on social media under the hashtag #SASdoctorheroes.
We continue to welcome new contributions. If you would like to write about your career journey, experiences and achievements for us to share, please contact Rachel Yeager (ryeager@rcoa.ac.uk).
