RACP: And how long have you been acting as a SPDP facilitator?

LC: For about 7 years now.

RACP: Do you remember what got you started, or interested in being a SPDP facilitator?

LC: Yes, I love the clinical work but I've had several strong education and training components to the rest of my SMO role, both undergraduate and postgraduate. I think that training, supervision and mentorship is a really important part of simply being an SMO. I don't think it's a specialist skill, I think it's a generic skill that we all need to own and have knowledge in, and becoming an SPDP facilitator was simply part of that. It was about meeting colleagues and helping all of us raise the game for our trainees.

RACP: So, you think there's a kind of collective responsibility across the membership for people to contribute to this?

LC: Yes, I have a fundamental belief that you've got two roles as an SMO. The first is to look after your patients, and the second is to leave the system better than you found it. We all contribute to the second part in different ways, but part of that is training people to be better than ourselves. My career in education and training is about that. I enjoy working with the trainees, but I also think that we should help people be better than we are, and we can often recognise what we don't do well and help people do better in those aspects.

RACP: Do you think, given the current workforce pressure and pressures in life more generally, it's getting harder for people to find the time and inclination to contribute to things such as SPDP facilitation?

LC: It’s hard to say for sure because everyone’s career goes through different stages. Our health system is definitely under pressure, but people still want to contribute to the system and make it better... I genuinely believe we can.

In my own career, I’ve had really busy periods and quieter ones, as well as years that feel more rewarding than others. That’s probably true for most people. Overall, I tend to be an optimistic person, so it’s in my nature to believe things can improve and that we can move forward.

I do believe that by collectively and collegially working through the issues, with patients at the forefront, we can make a stronger health service. I think trainees want that, which is one of the joys of working with trainees, who are generally optimistic, forward thinking, and innovate in a way that experienced SMOs don’t always think of. But they do need guidance, support and help from SMOs, and I think that's where supervision and mentorship comes in. I also think for trainees, simply knowing that you're there, if they need you, is a really important part of it. The support of more senior people and SPDP reinforces that.

RACP: What do you think are the benefits of being an SPDP facilitator? What do you get out of it?

LC: There are definitely personal benefits. I love meeting my colleagues face to face and having a discussion, both about training and, invariably, the wider workplace, plus I always I enjoy seeing New Zealand. My favourite kind of SPDP to facilitate is when it's attached to another meeting – SPDP with IMSANZ - and then people tend to be more relaxed, as they're somewhere for longer. I also enjoy facilitating sessions in Auckland and meeting my local colleagues.

RACP: You’ve touched on that collegial part of SPDP – is that an important aspect of the in-person meetings?

LC: For me, yes. I mean, when you go to a meeting, you learn through the sessions, but you also learn at morning tea. Generally, that aspect is really important, and it also tends to be when you dissect down on particular issues or have a more thematic discussion with somebody.

RACP: What would your advice be, or what would you say to people who are considering becoming an SPDP facilitator?

LC: I think the key with being an SPDP facilitator is that it's a facilitation skill, not simply an exchange of knowledge. So, it's drawing out other people's ideas and experiences for the room to consider, reflect, and learn from. I'm naturally interested in other people's opinions, which is why I enjoy SPDP.

The other reason I really enjoy being an SPDP facilitator is the range of people in the room. You have everything from a senior trainee to an early year SMO, to an SMO who's planning their retirement, and it generally draws out good collegial discussions where everybody can contribute something. The trainees bring a near-peer perspective to the discussion, and the more experienced SMOs have invariably managed to help a number of trainees in a huge variety of challenging situations. I also really like SPDP because it's a great reminder of how good our trainees are. I think people attend SPDP with the intention of talking, learning, and interacting with colleagues, so it starts from a positive place.

RACP: You seem to really enjoy being a SPDP facilitator.

LC: Yes, and I like the fact that New Zealand is a collegial place – we deliver healthcare as a team, and SPDP builds on that. Most people enjoy meeting a variety of colleagues, and you meet people from different places, different subspecialties – there's always learning from people with different experiences. I enjoy the challenge of SPDP, as someone usually mentions a situation that I've not encountered and not thought about, so as a facilitator, there are always things to learn.

RACP: Thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate it.

LC: You’re welcome.

Find out more about becoming a SPDP Facilitator and how to register for facilitator training workshops.