This week-long event is aimed at helping medical undergraduates develop a strong clinical, academic and research portfolio that will help them to pursue a career in a competitive surgical or medical speciality on completion of medical school. It will also help students obtain essential knowledge about their chosen speciality and develop the confidence to interact with consultants whilst undertaking clinical placements. This event is officially supported, amongst others, by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, The Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal Society of Medicine, British Medical Association, UG department of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Medical Protection Society and UK Space Biomedicine Association.
On day 1 of the course, Consultants from various specialities will provide the students with an overview (‘taster’) of different specialities. This will be particularly beneficial for students who wish to get a better understanding of the various career options and are yet to decide on a particular speciality.
On days 2 and 3, in addition to essential theoretical information about individual specialities, there will be sessions on basic surgical and suturing skills, basic life support, advanced life support, advanced trauma life support, basic orthopaedic skills, laparoscopic skills, performing an ECG, undertaking ultrasound examination and certain medical procedures such as inserting a central line.
The fourth day of the course will provide the student with pertinent information on various academic/research aspects such as intercalating and carrying out clinical and basic science research (leading to MSc/MRes/MPhil/PhD). This day will also cover aspects related to undertaking clinical audits, oral and poster presentations, and publications, as well as discuss the pertinent aspects of academic training/academic career.
On the morning of the final day of the course, the students will be given necessary information on developing and nurturing a portfolio, recent advances and future of their chosen speciality, and tips on entering a specialist training programme. In the afternoon, there will be three parallel sessions on careers outside the traditional curriculum. This will include talks from appropriate leaders who will provide information on careers in Conflict and Military Medicine (with talks from the Royal Air Force, Army and Navy), Space Medicine, and International Medicine and Public Health (with talks from the World Health Organisation, United Nations and Médecins Sans Frontières).
Mentorship by Consultants and Specialists will be offered for interested students.
Lively social events will be available every day after the course and will take advantage of the long summer evenings!
Number of places: Only 30 (per speciality grouping)
Places will be allocated on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis
Fee for individual days: £40 (this will include all the lectures and/or practical skills for the respective day, lunch and refreshments. Course certificate will not be provided for individual day participants)
Course fee for the entire week: £145/- (this includes the course fee for the whole event, all plenary sessions, lunch and refreshments for all five days, basic surgical skills/suturing sessions, laparoscopic skills sessions, basic orthopaedic skills, undertaking ultrasound examination, ATLS/ALS/BLS sessions, and course certificates)
