SOPPA
This chapter establishes the minimum standards for appointment, authority, accountability and performance of the Fellowship Director within accredited SOPPA centres.
These standards apply to every institution seeking or maintaining SOPPA Fellowship Centre Accreditation. Compliance is mandatory unless specifically exempted by SOPPA.
The Fellowship Director is the consultant appointed by the institution to provide overall leadership of the fellowship programme and to serve as the principal liaison with SOPPA.
The Fellowship Director must fulfil five core institutional and educational objectives.
Provide transparent, responsible leadership of the entire fellowship programme.
Ensure consistent delivery of the SOPPA curriculum across all programme components.
Safeguard the wellbeing, safety, and professional development of all fellows.
Maintain educational standards independent of service and operational pressures.
Ensure ongoing compliance with all SOPPA accreditation standards and requirements.
All eligibility criteria are mandatory. No exemptions apply without explicit SOPPA approval.
Consultant anaesthesiologist in good professional standing
Demonstrated interest in perioperative medicine and education
Experience teaching postgraduate trainees
Commitment to research, audit or quality improvement
Administrative support formally provided by the institution
The Fellowship Director carries obligations across four domains that together constitute the governance architecture of the programme.
Curriculum & Programme Delivery
Progress & Welfare Monitoring
Team Leadership & Development
Records, Reporting & Compliance
The Fellowship Director holds formal authority in the following matters within the accredited centre.
Recommend progression of fellows through the programme
Approve rotation schedules for clinical and academic placements
Escalate welfare concerns to institutional or SOPPA leadership
Recommend remedial training where fellow progress is insufficient
Recommend successful completion to SOPPA subject to regulations
Nominal Appointment: Listed as Director but not educationally involved.
No Protected Time: Absence of formally allocated educational time.
Incomplete Documentation: Missing records, calendars, or reports.
Irregular Academic Programme: Inconsistent delivery of structured sessions.
No Fellow Monitoring: Failure to track or document fellow progress.
Qualified Director: Appointment of an appropriately qualified Fellowship Director.
Protected Time: Formal institutional provision of dedicated educational hours.
Missing Records: Submission of all outstanding programme documentation.
Faculty Development Plan: Structured plan for educational capability improvement.
Follow-Up Review: Targeted repeat inspection by SOPPA within agreed timelines.
Director Profile: Dedicated Fellowship Director profile with qualifications and contact.
Tenure Dates: Appointment and tenure dates recorded and publicly accessible.
Tenure Reminders: Automatic notifications prior to tenure review or expiry.
Declaration Portal: Secure annual declaration submission workflow.
Change-History Log: Full auditable history of all Director appointments and changes.