Celebrating Excellence: An Interview with Dr Marta Dell’Aringa
Dr Marta Dell’Aringa, Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley, was recently awarded Best Clinical Supervisor of the Year 2025 in the SLaM Training Programme Awards.
Nominated by trainees themselves, the accolade highlights her dedication to developing the next generation of doctors and fostering a supportive, reflective learning environment.
Here, Marta tells us more about the award, her work, her approach, and why supervision matters so deeply in medical training. “The award was such a nice surprise,” she said. "I was definitely humbled and a bit shy about being in the spotlight. The ceremony was so special—piano music, canapés. It was a wonderful way to end the year. And the residents wrote such beautiful paragraphs about us. Their comments showed such gratitude—really touching."
Working as a full‑time inpatient consultant and leading a ward that cares for acutely unwell patients, most of whom are admitted under the Mental Health Act, Marta also supports at least 10 resident doctors each year - three residents at any one time (both junior and senior), plus around three senior residents as their long‑term educational supervisor. “I see them every week for a formal hour of supervision, but also constantly on the ward, in real time. I get a good sense of their strengths, challenges and how I can support their development.”
One of the things Marta enjoys most about her supervision sessions is her introduction of walking supervision in Ruskin Park, no matter the weather! “The acute ward can be very intense; we all need to decompress, and walking helps movement, reflection, and conversation—it just flows more naturally. Two laps of the park have become the norm, except in really bad weather, which is when I offer a hot chocolate instead.”
And for Marta, supervision is far more than a training requirement. “It’s mentorship, coaching, modelling what it means to be a doctor. Psychiatry is a complex discipline—not just the science but the human side and the emotional impact it has on us. Residents need a safe space to offload, reflect and grow. You’re the next generation for them. You are who they look up to.”
With nearly 20 years of experience supervising resident doctors, Marta has shaped and supported dozens of future psychiatrists throughout her career “I reflected on the fact that by investing more on resident doctors, many more patients will receive the great care they need - in a ripple effect!”. Despite her long experience, the award has clearly meant a great deal. “I was over the moon about this award. It’s so meaningful to know that the Residents nominated me.”
