Publication of the GMC 'Tomorrow's Doctors' in 1993 and the establishment of new medical schools in
Teaching itself is also rewarding - there is great satisfaction to be derived from contributing to the careers and achievements of the next generation of doctors. Postgraduate courses in Medical Education are widely available. The Centre for Medical Education in Dundee offers distance learning modules which can build up to a qualification at Certificate, Diploma and Masters level. In addition, the Open University offers an MA in Education, and the University of Aberdeen has just started a PG Certificate in Medical Education. The Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME http://www.asme.org.uk/), a UK based society and The Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) hold popular annual meetings at which Medical Education research is presented, providing an ever-increasing evidence base for the practice of Medical Education.
One way of developing educational expertise is to undertake an attachment as a Clinical Teaching Fellow. Such posts are now common, although they vary in format across medical schools. Teaching Fellow posts were introduced in Aberdeen in 2000 and they allow a junior doctor at Specialty Registrar level to obtain up to two years of "Out of Programme" experience in education, with the opportunity to study for a postgraduate qualification. These posts are not primarily for high volume teaching delivery, but are to give junior doctors a breadth of experience in all aspects of education.
The first two cohorts of teaching fellows are now in consultant posts and the value of this scheme is becoming apparent as they contribute to both undergraduate and post graduate education at a senior level.
The Academic Medical Education rotation is unique among the Aberdeen Foundation Programme rotations in that it provides a 4-month Clinical Teaching Fellowship during FY2. This is a junior version of the Teaching Fellow role and will allow the trainee to engage in clinical skills teaching and to acquire an understanding of educational theory and research through regular contact with staff at the Medical School. Six medical education posts are available for 2010 entry. The first year will be spent in Inverness based at Raigmore Hospital; following this, 3 trainees will remain in Inverness for FY2 and 3 will commence FY2 in Aberdeen.
This rotation provides the trainee with the opportunity to spend a minimum of one year in Inverness based at Raigmore hospital and on General Practice attachments in either Grampian or the Highlands and Islands that allow exposure to remote and rural medicine, a particular strength of our Deanery.
The 3 trainees spending FY2 in Aberdeen will be part of the Medical Education team and contribute to all aspects of the planning and delivery of the MBChB programme from years 1 to 5. The other 3 trainees spending FY2 in Inverness will also be integral to the local Medical Education team but will contribute to the planning and delivery of the MBChB programme for senior medical students in years 4 and 5 who are on their remote and rural attachments in the Highlands and Islands.
As well as being a leader in Medical Education, Aberdeen has a large research-active department of General Practice whose particular strength lies in developing remote and rural medicine initiatives. Rotations through respiratory & infectious diseases and obstetrics will provide excellent opportunities for broad and varied clinical and research training.
Rotations
| Rotation 1 | Rotation 2 | Rotation 3 | Mentors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10. MEDE FY1 | Acute Med (INV) | General Surgery (INV) | Respiratory & Infectious Diseases (INV) | SMcR |
| MEDE FY2 | Medical Education Clinical Fellowship | Obstetrics | GP (Grampian) | DR/GMcF |
| 11. MEDE FY1 | Respiratory & infectious diseases (INV) | Acute Medicine (INV) | General Surgery (INV) | ST |
| MEDE FY2 | GP (Grampian) | Medical Education Clinical Fellowship | Obstetrics | JMcL/ST |
| 12. MEDE FY1 | General Surgery (INV) | Respiratory & infectious diseases (INV) | Acute Medicine (INV) | SL |
| MEDE FY2 | Obstetrics | GP (Grampian) | Medical Education Clinical Fellowship | HMcK/SB |
13. MEDE FY1 |
Acute Med (INV) | General Surgery (INV) | Respiratory and Infectious Diseases (INV) | AW |
MEDE FY2 |
GP (Highland) |
Medical Education Clinical Fellowship (INV) | Surgery (Fort William) | SMcR |
14. MEDE FY1 |
Respiratory and Infectious Diseases (INV) | Acute Medicine (INV) | General Surgery (INV) | AT |
MEDE FY2 |
Surgery (Fort William) | GP (Highland) | Medical Education Clinical Fellowship (INV) | ST |
15. MEDE FY1 |
General Surgery (INV) | Respiratory and Infectious Diseases (INV) | Acute Medicine (INV) | SL |
MEDE FY2 |
Medical Education Clinical Fellowship (INV) | Surgery (Fort William) | GP (Highland) | ST |
Mentor Key
SMcR - Prof S MacRury |
ST - Dr Susan Tracey AW-Prof Angus Watson JMcL- Dr J McLay |
AT - Dr A Todd |