Academic Medicine has undergone an identity crisis in recent years but is re-emerging as a highly competitive and attractive option for talented young doctors straight out of medical school (see The Academy of Medical Sciences http://www.acmedsci.ac.uk/ and http://www.nccrcd.nhs.uk). The majority of Foundation Schools in the UK now offer academic medicine posts. With one of the largest clinical campuses in Europe, Aberdeen Medical School has an enviable number of academics in medicine-related disciplines who are heavily involved in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and research at an International level.
The rotations offered to aspiring academic medics are extremely attractive and afford a cohesive selection of specialties suited to young doctors with an interest in pathology, basic and clinical science. Aberdeen has a strong research focus in gastroenterology with active programmes in inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and stomach cancer all of which have a very high incidence in 
the North East of Scotland. They work in close contact with the oncology research group and pathology department to examine the epidemiology, pathology and molecular biology of common cancers and those that are increasing in incidence such as oesophageal cancer. There is extensive research expertise in Haematology spanning haemostasis and coagulation disorders, haematological malignancies, transfusion medicine and EBV related diseases. Aberdeen also has an established reputation for respiratory research particularly asthma. There are active research programmes investigating fetal, early life and environmental influences on the aetiology, prevention and treatment of asthma. Research is also being conducted in the fields of COPD, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. The recent appointment of Professor Michael Frenneaux (cardiologist) as the Regius Chair of Medicine provides tremendous opportunities for research in several avenues including heart failure and cardiovascular pathophysiology.
The above rotations will provide the trainee with an unsurpassable exposure to general medical specialties designed to give them an excellent grounding in clinical and research activities relating to acute and chronic medical conditions.
The 2011-2013 academic medicine programme offers haematology, cardiology, respiratory and gastroenterology rotations; however, Aberdeen also has world class research programmes in other medical specialties such as rheumatology, renal, neurology, neuroscience, ophthalmology and pathology. Trainees are welcome to choose to embark on research projects outwith the rotations specified. The trainees will be intensively mentored through this programme to ensure that they emerge with a comprehensive training in research methods, publications and the opportunity to present at national and international meetings.
Rotations
| Rotation 1 | Rotation 2 | Rotation 3 | Mentors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. MED FY1 | General Surgery | Acute Medicine | Respiratory | RP |
| MED FY2 | Haematology | Gastroenterology | Cardiology | MV |
| 5. MED FY1 | Respiratory | General Surgery | Acute Medicine | GD |
| MED FY2 | Gastroenterology | Cardiology | Haematology | GM |
| 6. MED FY1 | Acute Medicine | Respiratory | General Surgery | EEO |
| MED FY2 | Cardiology | Haematology | Gastroenterology | MG |
Mentor Key
| EEO - Prof E El-Omar GD - Prof G Devereux |
GM - Prof G Murray MG - Prof M Greaves |
MV - Prof M Vickers RP - Dr R Petty |