UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine
Newsletter – April 2000

Admissions and Selection 

Cambridge Colleges have responsibility for admissions, and Lucy Cavendish College is hosting an open day on behalf of all the admitting Colleges on 21 June 2000. It is difficult to know how many candidates will be interested in the course. However, a similar course at St. George's in London resulted in 10 applications per place.

The BBC are very keen to film aspects of the course. Tessa Livingstone produced the two series of "Doctors to be" based at St. Mary's in London, and the BBC crew will be filming at the open day. Selection is a very complex issue and will be addressed at a seminar in Hughes Hall on 25 April 2000. The seminar will be attended by experts from London, Oxford and Cambridge and the editor of the Lancet.

Publicity and Launch

Publicity will revolve around the official course launch date of Monday 25 May 2000. The course leaflet, which so many of you have helped with, will be printed, distributed and a copy put onto the web sites of the three admitting Colleges, the Clinical School and the West Suffolk Hospital. Leaflets will be sent to all HEI Careers Offices plus all faculties in the top five UK Universities.

The course will be advertised in the New Scientist, CAM, Cambridge, Newsletter and it is possible articles may be submitted to THES and the Guardian Education section.

Curriculum Development

The outline curriculum is shown below. The details are being discussed with the MVST and general practice. In addition, there will be curricular development at WSH, particularly with regard to integrated clinical attachments and vertical strands. I will be discussing contribution from local experts (pathology, pharmacy, palliative care, radiology etc.) when the details of the curriculum are clearer.

Staffing at WSH

Three Graduate Course Supervisors will be recruited from WSH consultant staff land from local general practices). Publicity documentation will be sent to all consultants at WSH, Community Trust and Hospice with the job description of the role of Graduate Course Supervisor. Initially the post consists of two sessions a week rising to four a week after two years with Fellowship of one of the Cambridge Colleges on appointment. Appointments are for five years. Applicants will need to make it clear to the Trust how the teaching sessions will be released and service commitment maintained, with the 'incoming sessions' being used flexibly.

Expressions of interest should be lodged by the end of April. Interviews will be arranged for mid-June for a start fate of October 2000. I would be very pleased to discuss details with interested individuals.

SIFT for 200-2001

£200,000 SIFT (recurrent) has been allocated from the original bid from the beginning of April 2000 to appoint consultant and other staff at WSH for course development and teaching. 

Capital investment at West Suffolk Hospital

£1.5mhas been allocated from Regional Capital to provide an education centre on WSH site, and additional residential accommodation is under discussion. It is intended that this basic unit be used as a catalyst to re-provide library, lecture theatre and post-graduate office facilities in the new building to establish a multi-professional education centre. This will require an additional £2m and major benefactors are currently being sought (pharmaceutical companies, BT etc.)

Graduate Medicine Bursary Scheme

This scheme is underway in which we hope medical trusts and healthcare companies will donate a bursary to cover the cost of the first year tuition fee for one student. If you know of any companies who might help, please contact Jo Lucas.

General Practice

Five local general practices have agreed to participate. Jeremy Webb has agreed to be acting GP Attachment Director (two sessions a week).

Dr P W Siklos MA BSc MB FRCP
Director, Cambridge Graduate Medical Course
Telephone: 01223 762038
email:[email protected]