UKFPO Bulletin: 2nd June 2021

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This week, I’m keen to remind you that the new 2021 UKFP curriculum was published on 25th May. Details of how to access the document are given below and I would encourage you all to take a look at it. By way of introduction we are creating a series of resources which will gradually appear on the UKFPO website. So far, you will find a YouTube presentations for trainers and another for foundation doctors (and potential FDs).  Thank you to Charlotte Perry, one of our UKFPO Fellows, for her hard work on this. The slides used in the presentations will be made available for use by curriculum champions and FSDs who will disseminate this information to admin teams, FTPDs, ESs and CSs and others associated with the programme. Those for FDs will be rolled out via FDAB reps.  

On the website, you will also see links to a series of podcasts explaining some specific aspects of the curriculum along with relevant fact sheets.  Please take a listen. We also have a series of webinars planned including one for supervisors, one for FDs which will be hosted by the Scottish Foundation School and another for IMGs. 

The curriculum will be going live from 4th August so please familiarise yourself with it. 

Trainees with queries about the curriculum should contact their educational supervisors or local postgraduate centres in the first instance for tailored advice. General queries about the new curriculum can be addressed to Curriculum2021@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk

New UK Foundation Programme Curriculum 2021

The Foundation Programme (FP) curriculum, which underpins the training and professional development of newly graduated doctors, relaunches for the first time in five years this summer. The curriculum sets out a holistic approach to care including physical health, mental health and social health and the skills required to manage this in both acute and community settings and for patients with chronic conditions. Foundation doctors must demonstrate that they are competent in the traditional elements of medical training but also in areas such as communication and consultation skills, patient safety and teamwork. The curriculum provides a framework for educational progression that will help them achieve these skills and supports them through the first two years of professional development after graduation from medical school.

Resources such as podcasts and fact-sheets will be added to the website over the course of 8 weeks to help trainers and trainees understand what the curriculum means for them.

For more information please visit our New UK Foundation Programme Curriculum page and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

UKFPO Call for Foundation Doctor Case Studies

To help prepare new F1 doctors for life in foundation training, we are requesting case studies from current foundation doctors for the UKFPO website. Have a read of our new case studies, submitted by current foundation doctors, for an idea of what this can look like, but we are open to ideas on what aspects of foundation training you would like to write about. Please contact Ellie at ellie.walsh@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk to discuss your ideas or request more information. Thank you!

Survey on the experiences of foundation doctors moving region

The Foundation School Director for East of England, Helen Johnson, is conducting research into the impact of moving for foundation doctors. The research is predominantly through a questionnaire, but we will be able to invite some participants to talk through their experiences in more depth. You are invited to email at the end of the questionnaire if you wish to do this, and we will then send the interview participation information sheet.

If you would like to participate, please complete this questionnaire. If you would like to find out more before participating, please watch this short video.

Health Education England – Diagnostic Imaging Project

The HEE Global Engagement Directorate is advertising volunteer opportunities in diagnostic imaging in Uganda. This is part of a pilot project and may appeal to foundation trainees with experience in diagnostic imaging. There are opportunities for both long and short term volunteering overseas, and also virtual UK based volunteering. For more information, please visit the Global Engagement page.

The Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Programme contains a 30 minute module called Building a New Zero NHS, which would help foundation doctors to meet their learning outcome on “sustainable use of finite resources”, as well as inform them of NHS England’s “Net Zero” carbon emissions plans. The module can be accessed via the e-Learning for Healthcare website.

Events, Information and Opportunities from External Partners

UCLMS Evening Seminar – 10th June

All those interested in medical education are invited to join this free virtual evening seminar held via Zoom. The seminar is on Trust, Professionalism and Regulation: how these interact in Medicine and Law by Kirsty Alexander, Research Fellow in Research Department of Medical Education, UCL.

Join for a short presentation on the project, and then a space for a friendly, critical discussion of how trust, professionalism and regulation interact medicine and law. For more information, please review the flier or visit the website.

General Surgical Trauma Series – 10th June 2021

All foundation doctors are invited to this series of lectures on trauma, delivered by speakers from a range of specialties. This is a free event which will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. For more information, please review the flier or contact ecarrington-windo@outlook.com.

To book your place, please use this booking form.

RCPath Competitions and Events

Essay Prize Competition:

The Royal College of Pathologists has been holding a Foundation Essay Prize Competition for the last 3 years to offer foundation doctors the chance to take an in-depth look at a particular aspect of pathology through a written piece. The winning entry will be published on the RCPath website and the writer of the winning essay will be rewarded with a certificate and a cash prize presented at an RCPath event. For more information please review their website and the flier. Entries must be submitted to training@rcpath.org by 23.59 on Friday 11th June.

Royal College of Pathologists Foundation Taster Event – 23rd June 2021:

All foundation doctors are invited to the joint RCPath/BDIAP Foundation Taster Event 2021. This is an exciting opportunity to explore pathology and see what the career has to offer. This virtual programme will be delivered with a mixture of specialty-specific sound bite videos from a variety of consultants and trainees (sent to attendees a few days before the meeting), followed by a live virtual session held on Wednesday, 23rd June at 7pm via Zoom (approximately 1.5 hours).

RCPath Foundation Fellowships:

The College will again be making a number of Foundation Fellowships available this year. The Foundation Fellowship scheme is open to Foundation doctors who secure a post rotating through any pathology specialty – this includes histopathology, haematology, medical microbiology and infectious diseases or any other specialty represented by the College. Foundation doctors undertaking longitudinal integrated foundation training (LIFT) in pathology are also eligible to apply. Candidates will be selected through a competitive application process, and successful applicants will hold the status of Foundation Fellow throughout the period of their Foundation rotation. Fellows will be eligible for a range of benefits and opportunities.The closing date is 31 August 2021. More information can be found on the College website.

4th Annual Core Surgical Training Interview Course

The 4th Annual Core Surgical Training Interview Course will take place again this year. The high yield Lectures and Mock interview circuit will be running both Virtually and Face-To-Face this year. The first set of courses will be running over September and October, with further details provided on the CST website. Last year’s selection process was extremely competitive and those that prepared early benefitted. The feedback received from the most successful candidates has allowed the course to be tailored to your needs. Examiners for the mock interview circuit are the highest scoring Core Surgical Trainees and Registrars who will give you person specific feedback.The trademark lecture will take place before the circuit and is always a useful resource for our candidates. One-to-one coaching and online resources are also offered, which are all available on the website. Please visit the website to find out more details and book on to the course. The course tends to book up soon so don’t miss out! 

If you have been considering applying for specialist training in pathology and would like to know more about the different specialties, make sure you register for this event for free to explore the exciting opportunities that our pathology specialties have to offer you.

Belfast Eye Conference – 3rd and 4th July 2021

Foundation trainees are invited to attend the first ever virtual Belfast Eye Conference, hosted by Queen’s University Belfast. Here you will meet like-minded healthcare students, early-stage doctors and early-career vision scientists from around the world who are equally fascinated by clinical opthalmology and vision related research. The conference is free of charge to attend.

The conference will provide the stage for speakers who will give broad and varied perspectives on eye related disease. Consultant ophthalmologists will give clinical talks relating to their sub-specialty, and members of the multi-disciplinary team will discuss how they support eye health. Vision science is a strong and active research field, particularly in Northern Ireland. We are excited to showcase cutting edge vision related research from scientists at Queen’s University Belfast.

You will also have an opportunity to showcase your vision related research, in oral and poster formats. You may have completed a vision related case study or audit, summer studentship, intercalated project, special study module work or PhD. Whatever the level, submit an abstract today! The deadline for submissions is 15th June 2021.

To register, view the programme or download an abstract submission form, please visit the Queen’s University Belfast website.

British Society of Medical Dermatology (BSMD) – Video Prize

The BSMD is launching a new prize for a patient education video on a topic related to Medical Dermatology. Prizes include a Medical Dermatology textbook as well as the opportunity for a credited video on the official BSMD YouTube channel for the winners. There will be two streams of prizes open to undergraduate medical students and foundation doctors studying or working at a university or hospital in the UK or Ireland. The video must not exceed 5 minutes. 

The deadline for submissions is 6th August 2021. For more information, please visit the BSMD website and view the information flyer.

DEMEC Conference – 6th and 7th December 2021

For the 4th time, the leading organisations in medical education and training across the UK come together to provide highly successful joint national UK Medical Education conferences. The conference will be delivered both face to face and virtually. DEMEC welcomes everyone involved in medical education including medical students and trainees.

Poster abstract submissions are strongly encouraged and are eligible for awards. The deadline for poster submissions is 23:59 on Wednesday 30th June. Please submit your poster on the DEMEC poster submission page.

To register your attendance, please visit the DEMEC registration page. For more information, please review the event flyer.