Okay,

My friend in 5th year has secured an academic post for his FY1 year, he told me he chose academics as it allows for research in the FY2 year ( he's concerned about the bottle necks up the road in respiratory medicine and so wants some research under his belt so he stands a better chance of getting on to the speciality of his choice at ST1).

I myself want to go into surgery, and have been told by him that an academic FY post will give me a leg up if it is a academic surgical programme.

However from looking at the foundation website it seems that academic posts with a surgical theme are mainly for people who want to do research in surgery as their occupation.

Another thing which deterred me was the lack of clinical rotations in the FY2 year, hence less experience running up to ST applications.

I was just wondering if anybody could advise me on whether its a viable choice to try to get a ST1 post in surgery (run through or otherwise) coming from academic medicine?

Thanks i need some insight the academic posts are already starting to come and i will have to make a decision soon.