SAS Celebration week 2026: SAS in leadership (Dr Kalpesh Solanki)

For this year's SAS Celebration Week, Dr Kalpesh Solanki reflects on the value SAS psychiatrists bring to the NHS beyond service provision.

I think working as a Specialty and Specialist (SAS) doctor is a privilege, where you can make your own career pathway rather than choosing the traditional one.

There are lots of opportunities to choose from like leadership roles, educational roles or developing career via AC and portfolio pathway.

SAS Celebration Week is a moment to recognize the incredible value, dedication, and expertise of the SAS workforce.

For me, it is also an opportunity to reflect on a personal and professional milestone: stepping into senior leadership as an Associate Medical Director (AMD) in Psychiatry, while proudly maintaining my clinical identity as a specialist.

Our SAS colleagues are not there just to provide services, but they are great leaders, educators, autonomous decision makers and innovators.

I would like to thank all our SAS colleagues for their unwavering commitment, clinical brilliance and energy you bring to the team and wider NHS system.

Dr Kalpesh Solanki
Old Age Faculty Representative, RCPsych SAS Committee