Portfolio Pathway (CESR) Support in General Surgery

Tailored Support for Aspiring Consultants

Overview

The Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) is the GMC’s route to UK Specialist Registration in General Surgery for doctors who have not completed a GMC-approved training programme, but who can demonstrate the Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) expected of a UK day-one consultant. Dr Nikhil Nanjappa’s Portfolio Pathway Support Programme provides bespoke, one-to-one mentorship for consultant-level general and GI surgeons trained outside the UK, often with subspecialty interest in colorectal, upper GI, hepatobiliary or breast surgery, guiding you from an honest eligibility assessment through evidence mapping against the Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) / Royal College of Surgeons curriculum to a submission-ready application.

Who This Pathway Is For

Internationally trained general surgery doctors seeking UK Specialist Registration outside a GMC-approved training programme
Doctors who have completed part of their training on an approved UK programme but need a Portfolio Pathway route to complete registration
Consultants and senior doctors already practising who need their existing experience formally mapped to GMC CiPs

This model is built for every doctor who wants a structured, achievable route to UK Specialist Registration.

What are the testimonials from previous participants?

Success Stories

This was the best course I have ever attended for CESR. Mr. Nanjappa is a genius and a master of his craft. He explained everything in a clear and concise manner, and gave us invaluable tips and tricks. He also provided us with a lot of resources and support. I feel much more confident and motivated after attending his workshop. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is serious about CESR.

“Mr. Nanjappa is an amazing teacher and mentor. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in CESR, and he shared it with us generously. He was very approachable and friendly, and answered all our questions patiently. He also gave us honest and constructive feedback on our portfolios and interviews. He made the whole process seem easy and fun. I learned a lot from him and I am very grateful for his guidance.”

“I attended Mr. Nanjappa’s workshop after struggling with my CESR application for months. I was feeling lost and frustrated, and I didn’t know where to start or what to do. But after attending his workshop, everything changed. He showed me the right way to approach CESR, and he gave me a clear plan and direction. He also inspired me with his success story and his passion for general surgery. He is a true role model and a leader in his field. I am so glad I joined his programme.”

Additional Details

What the GMC Expects: General Surgery Evidence

A verified operative logbook (index and major procedures) benchmarked against UK CCT numbers
Evidence of independent decision-making in emergency general surgery and the acute abdomen
MDT, audit, and morbidity & mortality (M&M) participation records

Approach

How Dr Nikhil's Programme Helps

Honest, structured eligibility and gap assessment against the current Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) / Royal College of Surgeons Specialty Specific Guidance (SSG)
One-to-one evidence mapping to every CiP in the General Surgery curriculum
Portfolio structuring, reflective writing support, and referee-report guidance
Mentorship from a doctor who has been through the Portfolio Pathway process himself, and has mentored 100+ doctors to consultant status across specialties

Introducing Your Doctor

About Dr. Nikhil Nanjappa

Consultant GI & Colorectal Surgeon
UK-trained; among the youngest to complete FRCS & CESR
Lead, Department of Gastroenterology & Colorectal Surgery – Avant BKG Hospitals, Mysore
Founder of the international Portfolio Pathway Support Programme
Has mentored nearly 100 doctors worldwide
Deep expertise in curriculum mapping, portfolio structuring & GMC evidence standards
Known for delivering honest, practical, highly personalised mentorship

Get in Touch

Contact Dr. Nikhil Nanjappa

Gastro Gynae Clinic

Gokulam, Mysore | Avant BKG Hospitals, Mysore

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Frequently Asked Question's

How long does a General Surgery Portfolio Pathway application take?

Most applicants take 12–24 months to build a complete, well-mapped portfolio, depending on how much of your existing practice is already documented. The programme works with you to build a realistic evidence-collection timeline from your first eligibility review.

Do I need to be working in the UK to apply for General Surgery Portfolio Pathway?

No. Portfolio Pathway applications in General Surgery can be built and submitted from anywhere in the world, provided your evidence — case logs, referee reports, audits, and outcome data — is independently verifiable and recent (the GMC prioritises evidence from the past five years).

I trained mostly in laparoscopic and open GI surgery outside the UK. Does my logbook need to match UK case-mix exactly?

No. The GMC assesses your Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) against outcomes, not an exact case-mix match. What matters is that your logbook demonstrates safe, independent decision-making across the breadth of general surgical emergencies and elective work, with clear evidence of your role (primary operator vs assistant) in each case.

Dr. Nikhil Nanjappa

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