FRCPath Microbiology course
drsuryabrata@gmail.com
Registration form :
FRCPath Medical Microbiology - A Strategic Approach Registration - Google Forms
FRCPath Medical Microbiology Preparation: A Strategic Approach
Faculty
Dr. Suryabrata Banerjee, MBBS, FRCPath
Dr. Safaa Muneer Ahmed, MD, CIC®, FRCPath
Dr. Sai Shruti Iyer, MBBS, MD, FRCPath
Ania Swann, RGN, RSCN, BSc (Hons), PGCert (Remote presentation)
Programme
| Time | Topic | Description | Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Welcome, Objective and Housekeeping | ||
| 9:15 –9:45 | FRCPath introduction |
|
Dr Surya |
| 9:45 – 11:30 | Question analysis |
We cannot discuss questions from past years. It is not allowed by RCPath, but we will be able to give you a fairly good idea from our experience supervising trainees for > 10 years and first-hand experience of the examination
|
Dr Shruti Dr Safaa Dr Surya |
| 11:30 - 11:45 | Tea/Coffee | ||
| 11:45 – 12:15 | Preparing for part 1 – Exam Strategy, preparation, and exam experience |
|
Dr Shruti Dr Safaa Dr Surya |
| 12:15 – 13:00 | Preparation strategy for part 2 |
|
Dr Shruti Dr Safaa Dr Surya |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | UK healthcare system |
|
Dr Surya |
| 14:00 - 14:45 | Lunch | ||
| 14:45 – 15:45 | Resources for the exam |
What resources must you use
|
Dr Shruti Dr Safaa Dr Surya |
| 15:45 - 16:45 | Antibiogram analysis |
|
|
| 16:45 - 17:00 | Coffee/tea | ||
| 17:00 - 18:00 | Interactive Q & A session and networking | Dr Shruti Dr Safaa Dr Surya |
| Time | Topic | Description | Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Recap | ||
| 9:15 – 9:45 | What after FRCPath? |
|
Dr Safaa Dr Shruti Dr Surya |
| 9:45 – 11:00 | Clinical decision making (Real-life example) |
|
Dr Surya |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Coffee/tea | ||
| 11:45 – 12:30 | Clinical decision making |
|
Dr Surya |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Case discussion with components of Infection control |
|
Dr Surya |
| 13:30 – 14:15 | Lunch | ||
| 14:15 – 16:30 | Water safety, ventilation, and decontamination |
Various aspects of water safety (Legionella control, Pseudomonas control), Theatre ventilation, pressurised rooms (PPV, NPV, PPVL), and endoscope decontamination. Experience of a senior NHS IPC nurse.
|
Dr Surya Ania Swan (Senior IPC nurse - TBC) |
| 16:30 – 16:45 | Break | ||
| 16:45 - 17:15 | Test paper | Two 30-minute test papers (one part 1 and one part 2) to give an idea of the type of exam questions (not marked) | |
| 17:15 - 18:00 | AMA/review of paper | Dr Surya Dr Safaa Dr Shruti |
Faculty Biographies
Dr. Suryabrata Banerjee, MBBS, FRCPath
Dr. Banerjee brings over two decades of comprehensive NHS experience to FRCPath preparation, having successfully navigated the UK training pathway from SAS doctor to specialist registrar to consultant status. Since achieving his FRCPath in 2014, he has served as a consultant microbiologist for over 10 years, with the last two years as Clinical Lead for Medical Microbiology and Virology. His deep understanding of the UK healthcare system, combined with his role as a trained clinical safety officer, provides invaluable insights into the practical aspects of UK microbiology practice that are essential for FRCPath success.
As founder and lead educator of the microregistrar programme, Dr. Banerjee has mentored over 350 trainees, including numerous successful FRCPath candidates from the UK and overseas. His expertise in clinical supervision and educational supervision within the UK infection training programme gives him unique insights into the examination expectations and the specific knowledge gaps that international candidates commonly face. His experience spans the full spectrum of NHS laboratory operations, infection control protocols, and clinical decision-making processes that form the core of FRCPath examination content.
Dr. Banerjee's commitment to modern educational approaches is demonstrated through his specialized training in healthcare AI and prompt engineering, enabling him to provide cutting-edge guidance on using technology effectively in exam preparation. His comprehensive knowledge of UK microbiology practice, combined with his proven track record in training successful FRCPath candidates, makes him an ideal mentor for aspiring microbiologists seeking to excel in this challenging qualification.
Dr. Safaa Muneer Ahmed, MD, CIC®, FRCPath
Dr. Ahmed represents the gold standard of FRCPath achievement, having successfully completed her Fellowship in Medical Microbiology from the Royal College of Pathologists (2017-2024) while practicing in India. Her journey from MD Microbiology gold medallist to FRCPath holder provides a unique perspective on the challenges and strategies needed for international candidates. Her dual certification as FRCPath and CIC® (Certified in Infection Control) from CBIC demonstrates her comprehensive expertise in both clinical microbiology and infection prevention, key areas heavily emphasized in the FRCPath examination.
Currently serving as Group Head of Clinical Microbiology & Hospital Infection Control, Dr. Ahmed has extensive experience in molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial stewardship, and clinical decision-making across multiple healthcare settings. Her research contributions on SARS-CoV-2 variants and antimicrobial resistance, along with her Fellowship in Infectious Diseases from Medigrad (Singapore), provide her with the contemporary knowledge base essential for guiding candidates through the evolving landscape of medical microbiology that the FRCPath examination demands.
Dr. Ahmed's combination of academic excellence, practical experience, and successful FRCPath completion makes her an invaluable resource for candidates seeking to understand the examination requirements from an Indian healthcare perspective. Her ongoing pursuit of FIID certification and her expertise in molecular diagnostics ensure that her guidance reflects the latest developments in clinical microbiology practice, crucial for candidates preparing for this internationally recognized qualification.
Dr. Sai Shruti Iyer, MBBS, MD, FRCPath
Dr. Iyer brings a unique perspective as a current FRCPath candidate (2022-2025) who understands the contemporary examination landscape and the specific challenges faced by candidates today. Her role as Head of Microbiology and Infection Control at Sankara Eye Foundation India, combined with her specialized expertise as an Ocular Microbiologist, provides insight into specialized areas of microbiology that are increasingly relevant in FRCPath examinations. Her extensive experience across major diagnostic laboratories, including over four years at Dr. Lal PathLabs, gives her comprehensive understanding of laboratory operations and quality management systems.
Her research excellence, demonstrated through recognition including the Best Paper in Virology award from IAMM (2019) and ICMR Fellowship reward, reflects the academic rigor expected in FRCPath preparation. Dr. Iyer's expertise in molecular virology, antimicrobial stewardship, and rare fungal infections provides candidates with insights into both common and specialized topics that frequently appear in FRCPath examinations. Her experience with emerging pathogens and rare infections such as rhinosporidiosis offers valuable perspectives on the differential diagnosis and clinical decision-making skills essential for examination success.
As an active educator conducting CPHIC programmes and workshops on infection prevention and control, Dr. Iyer understands the pedagogical approaches most effective for adult learners preparing for professional examinations. Her current journey through the FRCPath process, combined with her extensive clinical and research experience, enables her to provide practical, contemporary guidance on examination preparation strategies and the evolving expectations of the Royal College of Pathologists.
Ania Swann, RGN, RSCN, BSc (Hons), PGCert
Ania brings nearly four decades of NHS experience and specialized expertise in infection prevention and control, areas that form critical components of the FRCPath examination. Since joining the Infection Prevention & Control team at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in 2005, she has developed comprehensive expertise in operational IPC management, decontamination processes, and the built environment aspects of infection control. Her BSc in Practice Development (Infection Control) and Post Graduate Certificate in Health and Social Care Leadership provide her with both theoretical knowledge and practical leadership skills essential for understanding NHS infection control frameworks.
Her specialized knowledge in decontamination of endoscopy and semi-critical devices, water safety management, and IPC in the built environment directly addresses key areas frequently examined in FRCPath papers. Ania's particular expertise in urinary catheterization management, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and gram-negative bloodstream infection prevention reflects the practical infection control challenges that microbiologists must understand for both clinical practice and examination success. Her experience in outbreak management and clinical investigations provides invaluable insights into the systematic approaches to infection control that are essential knowledge for FRCPath candidates.
As a senior NHS infection control practitioner, Ania offers a unique nursing perspective on multidisciplinary infection prevention and control teams, helping candidates understand the collaborative nature of infection control practice in the UK healthcare system. Her extensive experience in day-to-day operational management of IPC issues, combined with her passion for patient safety and practice improvement, provides practical insights that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application essential for FRCPath success.
