FCA and Society & Health - By Dr Jens Foell

“Marmite” stands for a polarising phenomenon – you either love it or hate it. No in between. Black or white, no grey. Society and Health occupies a similar position in students’ opinions across universities in the medical curriculum. Students’ preferences for a career in medicine (and possibly the selction process?) is often anchored in their affiliation to natural sciences. Social sciences have a problematic place, if seen in contrast and in parallel with natural sciences. In collaboration with colleagues delivering natural sciences in the undergraduate curriculum we have addressed this situation and introduced the new version of “Society and Health” in combination with suggestions for study skills and a change of the assessment format. This format is geared towards an authentic assessment with potential to augment students’ experiences in clinical situations and exam situations further on in their career. “Society and Health” spans the arch from patients (individuals) to people (social groups) to populations (subject of Public Health) and therefore bridges the divide between looking after individuals and researching populations.

This theme is explored through the lens of personal encounters with members of the public, who are willing to share their stories as patients in order to enable students to look at medicine through a sociological lens as part of their “education sentimentale”. This format is staple diet in our undergraduate menu – like Corn Flakes on a breakfast table. Only refinements have been necessary this year. Students write their structured write-up, tutors have a special workshop to assist them in rating students’ works and the formative e-portfolio work has been simplified. Fingers crossed that it addresses students’ and tutors’ needs!

Dr Jens, course lead FCA and S&H

Comments

Brief physical activity guidance for older adults in isolation

Resources on brief physical activity guidance for older adults in isolation for patients and clinicians Giving Older Adults Brief Physical Activity Advice. Given current clinical pressures, clinicians dealing with older adults will likely have limited time, and this adapted 3As model may provide a possible structure to clinician’s advice. Ask: Permission to discuss physical activity as something that could make a difference to health and wellbeing Advise /Explain/Explore: Ask how they physical activity levels have changed and what they could do to increase it? Agree: A plan considering what they will do, how they will do it. Try to ensure that it includes some cardiovascular, muscle and bone strengthening activities including resistance exercises, balance and co-ordination elements to the plan. Cardiovascular : Ideally the individual should be slightly out of breath when performing the activity. Aim to build to 150 minutes

Family Medicine Residency Training Program in Saudi Arabia

Dr Ahmed Al-Mujil is a Family Medicine Doctor from Saudia Arabia on a one year attachment to the Academic Dept of Primary care at Imperial. In this blog he gives us a unique insight into Family Medicine training in Saudia Arabia. The Family Medicine Residency Training Program in Saudi Arabia was established in 1994, at which time the first edition of the curriculum was written. Since then, Family Medicine and medical education have undergone significant changes. The curriculum was revised many times, until recent adoption of the Canadian Medical Education Directive for Specialists- CanMeds competencies framework in which the “competent physician” seamlessly integrates the competencies of all seven CanMEDS Roles. (Medical expert, Collaborator, Communicator , Leader , Health Advocate, Scholar and Professional). The duration of training in Family Medicine is four years starting from the first of October every year. All trainees must go through the rotations in their training m

A warm welcome to Dr Shivani Tanna, our new Year 3 GP and CMT Course Lead!

Dr Shivani Tanna, Year 3 GP and CMT Course Lead "I am delighted to have been appointed as year 3 GP course lead. My role in the department started on the 1st March 2016 and I have now taken over as CMT course lead. Having taught on this course, I feel privileged to be able to help maintain its excellent reputation and content. I am also developing the new 10 week GP attachment in year 3 which is being piloted for 60 students from September 2016. The students have expressed great enthusiasm and interest in this and we have already reached our recruitment target. Together with plenty of input from department leads, teaching fellows, and our GP tutors, we have started developing new ideas for both the attachment and departmental teaching sessions. I am hoping this is going to be fun and rewarding for all involved. I aim to design a course that is innovative, comprehensive and exciting. My version of “ICE”. If all goes to plan, the pilot will be rolled out

Imperial College London Primary Care

Search This Blog