Foundation application form slides from BMA Careers Conference, Manchester, March 2009

Slides from the talk given at the BMA Careers Conference held at the University of Manchester on 24th March 2009 can now be found at:

The Foundation Application Process – An Introduction

Think you have research, teaching or leadership and management potential?

Then an Academic Foundation Programme could be for you!

What is the Academic Foundation Programme?

An opportunity to devote some of your foundation training time to academic research and to develop research, teaching and leadership/management skills.

Whether you are planning on a future career in research or just fancy a foundation programme with something a little bit different, academic programmes offer the opportunity to spend time away from clinical practice to develop extensive skills.

Essentially, the programme will still cover the key foundation competencies (it has to!) whilst also exposing you to a research setting. Some programmes allocate a set four month period to the research element whilst others ensure that there is protected research time each week.

Recruitment for entry 2010

Applications for academic foundation programmes are earlier than the standard foundation programme applications.

Applications are handled locally by individual foundation schools which means that each foundation school can currently have a unique opening and closing date for applications. Check the individual websites for the foundation schools that you are interested in applying to for their recruitment timeline.

Local application deadlines will fall somewhere within the national time window of Friday 8th May – Monday 14th September 2009.

Some schools have very early deadlines and interview dates within this window so check their websites as soon as possible.

National timeline

Friday 8th May – Monday 14th September 2009

Local academic recruitment takes place – check specific deadlines and interview dates with individual foundation schools.

Monday 8th – Friday 26th June 2009

UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) undertakes national eligibility checking.

Friday 10th June 2009

UKFPO notifies applicants of eligibility status.

Monday 14th September 2009

National deadline for foundation schools to make offers.

Monday 21st September 2009

National deadline for applicants to accept or decline offers.

How do I apply?

Full details of the recruitment process will be available on the UKFPO website from Thursday 7th May.

Key documents

Rough Guide to Academic Foundation Programmes

National Person Specification

Try something different…

…check out the opportunities at the Voluntary, Not-For-Profit and Public Sector Careers event on Wednesday 4th March, Academy 1, Oxford Rd 2009 (Manchester): 12.30pm – 4pm (FREE ENTRY!)

Over 50 organisations will be exhibiting including Barnardos, BUNAC, British Red Cross, Childline, The New Children’s Hospital Appeal, Frontier, Teach First, the North West Strategic Health Authority and many more.

So whether you fancy some overseas volunteering, an internship in a charitable organisation or just getting involved with something a bit different, this event is not to be missed!

Get invaluable advice and information and gain access to volunteering opportunities, internships, work abroad projects & graduate positions.

Find out more at:

www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/aboutus/events/careersfairs/kaleidoscope/

Undergraduate research opportunities!

Do you fancy getting some research experience on your CV? Thinking of trying your hand at research before applying for an academic foundation programme? Are you passionate about a particular area of medicine and want to do more?

If any of these options sound like you, or if you’re just thinking of ways to add to your medical CV, an undergraduate research opportunity could be worth a look.

What are they?

Undergraduate research opportunities come in a number of guises. Some are formally advertised whilst others require you to be a little more proactive in seeking them out.

Formal opportunities such as ‘undergraduate vacation studentships’ are offered by a selection of research organisations. They have competitive application procedures and set closing dates.

Other opportunities exist where pots of research money become available which enable academics to take on undergraduate students to carry out a research project during the vacation.

Vacation studentship:

Also know as undergraduate research studentships, these are specific research projects offered by societies, charities and research institutes. They usually take place over the summer and can last between six and eight weeks. Successful applicants are paid a stipend of around £185.00 per week and are placed in a research facility, sometimes within a university, to work alongside a research team.

Once you have found an opportunity that you wish to apply for you must first approach a lecturer or tutor who is willing to act as a superviser for the project. Your superviser can be someone from your own university or another. It is then up to the superviser to apply to the organisation offering the project in order to secure funding. You may have to work together with your proposed superviser to put in an application allowing you to carry out the project.

An example of an undergraduate vacation studentship can be found on the Society for Endocrinology website.

Think about the areas of medicine that interest you and have a look on the relevant society’s webpages for details of any undergraduate research opportunities.

The HE Academy for Bioscience produces an annual list of bioscience related vacation studentships which may also be of interest:

www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk

Other undergraduate research opportunities:

Consider contacting a lecturer or tutor who is currently researching in an area that interests you. You can find out about areas of research on the Faculty website.

The Faculty sometimes receives sources of funding which they can allocate to undergraduate research awards to enable to students to undertake research over the summer.

Get your skates on!

Deadlines for undergraduate students are usually between February and April so if you’re keen it’s worth looking now.

Making applications:

Don’t forget that if you would like an objective opinion on your CV or an application form, call the Careers Service to book a drop-in advice session (0161 275 2829, bookings taken from 9.05am on the day).

Working in New Zealand

Why New Zealand?

There are many similarities between the UK and New Zealand healthcare systems. There exists a wide choice of healthcare services funded both privately and through government subsidies. There are currently shortages of doctors in some areas of practice however there is also oversupply in others so check your area of interest.

The Medical Training System in New Zealand

Basic medical training involves the completion of a medical degree followed by two years working as a house surgeon. Doctors must do six months of medicine and six months of surgery in order to get registration. Following this they must work as a senior house officer for one to two years before beginning to work as a registrar. Registrar training programmes include specialist examinations which must be passed before applications can be made to senior registrar posts. Specialist training lasts for five to six years leading to eligibility to apply for consultant posts.

International Medical Graduates Practicing Medicine

The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) registers doctors to practice medicine in New Zealand. Unlike the UK and Australia, there are no registration categories. Doctors are instead registered within a ‘scope of practice’ which determines the level of professional service they are allowed to perform. This is dependent on qualifications and experience.

International medical graduates are usually registered within a provisional general scope of practice. These are supervised roles for up to two years. To be eligible to apply you must hold a recognised medical degree and have one year general medical experience and full registration with the GMC.

There is a really easy to use self assessment tool on the MCNZ website which allows you to check your eligibility for registration within a scope of practice. You can also make an application for registration online.

All new registrants work under supervision for at least their first 12 months during which time their performance is assessed by a senior consultant.

Registration with the MCNZ within a scope of practice is only granted when you have a confirmed job offer under supervision in an approved hospital.

Finding a job

Most District Health Boards advertise their positions on their website so it is possible to apply directly to them.

Posts are often advertised in UK medical journals such as the BMJ or the careers section of the New Zealand Medical Journal.

Recruitment agencies are also worth considering as they do much of the organising for you. You will find a list on the MCNZ website.

Other useful links

www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/Workingabroadguide – A really useful guide to overseas work.

www.immigration.govt.nz – Immigration New Zealand.

www.kiwicareers.govt.nz – Information on labour market trends and working conditions.

Working in Australia

If you are considering spending some time working in medicine abroad it is worth exploring the health systems in some detail. Here is an introduction to working in Australia.

Why Australia?

The Australian health care system is considered to be one of the best in the world. A good balance exists between the public healthcare (Medicare) and private healthcare systems. Opportunities exist to practice a wide range of medicine from posts in advanced teaching hospitals in the cities to Third World medicine in the Aboriginal communities.

With a current shortage of doctors, particularly in rural areas, Australia offers a diversity of settings to suit most lifestyle choices.

The Medical Training System in Australia

The medical training system in Australia is not dissimilar to what we are used to in the UK. Australian doctors study for a primary medical degree before undertaking a 12 month internship in an approved accredited training post. Specialist medical training involves prevocational training in broad clinical experience during both the internship and second postgraduate years. This is followed by vocational training of 3 – 7 years in a chosen specialty.

International Graduates Practising Medicine

Very few overseas doctors have completed their specialty training in the UK when they consider a period of work in Australia. It is therefore common for an overseas doctor to first work under a temporary visa with conditional medical registration before completing the requirements for full registration or specialist recognition.

Full details of the registration procedures for overseas medical graduates can be found on the website of the Australian Medical Council at www.amc.org.au.

DoctorConnect, a government initiative developed by the Department for Health and Aging for doctors trained outside Australia, can also provide useful information

Postgraduate Training positions

Postgraduate/occupational trainee positions are often chosen by overseas doctors looking to enhance their clinical skills before returning home. A special occupational trainee visa is required.

The competition for training places in fierce so it is advisable to do your research early.

Competent Authority Pathway

The Competent Authority Pathway was introduced by the Australian Medical Council in July 2006 to assess international medical graduates applying to non-specialist positions. Successful applicants are eligible to apply for advanced standing towards the AMC certificate and are therefore not required to sit the clinical examinations. Instead, the pathway involves a workplace based assessment while working under supervision.

Assessment of eligibility for the Competent Authority Pathway can take up to four weeks so forward planning is recommended.

To be eligible, you must:

• be a graduate of a medical course in the UK accredited by the GMC
• have successfully completed FY1 or 12 months supervised training approved by the GMC in the UK
• hold full registration issued by the General Medical Council
  
  Apply online to determine your eligibility at www.amc.org.au

Finding a job

Not all vacancies may be filled by overseas doctors; it is most common for those available to be in areas of need or shortage. These may well be posts that Australian doctors do not want to take.

A good starting point can be the medical recruitment agencies as they often do all of the organising for you. Make sure the agency you are using is recognised by the Australian Association of Medical Recruitment Agencies (AAMRA). www.rcsa.com/au/aamra

It is also possible to apply directly to a hospital, especially if you are looking at a smaller hospital in more rural areas. If the hospital considers you to be eligible for the post they will sponsor you for immigration purposes. Successful applications result in conditional medical registration which is location and job specific, you cannot change job without reapplying for conditional registration.

A useful jobs page can be found at www.doctorvacancy.com.au.

The North Western Postgraduate Medical Deanery also has contacts in Australia which you may find useful. See their website www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk.

Funding

A good website for research and travel grants is www.rdinfo.org.uk. You will also find the Directory of Grant Making Trusts and the Educational Grants Directory available for reference in the Careers Service library.       

Alternative careers with medicine – the NHS and beyond

If you are looking to apply your medical skills in a setting that takes you beyond the work of the NHS you might want to consider some of the following career areas:

Medical officers in the Armed Forces

Both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force accept applications for Medical Officers straight from medical school. The Royal Army require you to have completed professional training (usually F1/F2, sometimes specialist training) before you can apply. Employment prospects are currently good but be prepared to work in war zones around the world and to undertake some basic military training.

See the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy careers websites for more information or make an appointment at your local Army Careers Office (Peters Street, Manchester).

Sports medicine

If you are keen to apply your medical skills to patients that are generally fit and well you could consider gym/sports team roles. Work patterns tend to include evening and weekend work and the potential to travel. The British Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine offer postgraduate qualifications, most commonly studied alongside specialty/GP training, for those interested in a career in this area. See the BASEM website and also the UK Association of Doctors in Sport for more information.

Travel medicine

If your career wish list includes international travel, you might consider travel medicine. Prior clinical experience in tropical and infectious diseases or general practice is generally sought in this area as you will be dealing with immunisation programs and managing and treating infectious diseases associated with overseas travel.

Pharmaceutical medicine

Options in the industry range from working for large multinational firms such as Pfizer to smaller specialised biotech facilities such as those based on Manchester Science Park. Roles particularly relevant to those with medical training include clinical research posts, drug safety officers and medical advisers. Whether you want to work at the bench or prefer the challenge of communicating with scientists every day there are a diverse range of roles in the industry. The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries has a fantastic careers website listing in excess of twenty different roles! Often graduates entering these areas will have some previous research experience.

Medical writing

If you have a passion for communicating scientific concepts to others, be that academically, journalistically or in an educational capacity, you may consider medical writing. There’s potential for freelance work here as well. Start building a portfolio of written work as soon as you can to demonstrate your style. For more information the following organisations are helpful; the Medical Journalists Association, the European Medical Writers Association, and the Association of British Science Writers.

Medico legal work

There are opportunities to work in medical protection, defence, risk management and forensic medicine however most medico legal roles require a number of years of previous clinical experience.

If you are looking for a complete move into the legal field, then you could consider training to become a solicitor or a barrister. As with any career change, this would require a good deal of forward planning. Postgraduate legal education is expensive (most courses cost in excess of £6000) and competition for initial training positions is fierce with approximately twice as many students qualifying as there are training places. It is possible to specialise in medical law at the end if you want to use your knowledge of the healthcare system, but with two years of postgraduate legal study followed by two years working as a trainee ahead of you this is a lengthy and expensive option.

Medical posts in overseas aid organisations

Posts in this type of work (particularly in developing countries) tend to require substantial prior clinical experience, after all, you could be working in a far flung part of the globe, managing a team on limited resources and responding to a wide range of medical emergencies. There are a number of medical aid organisations placing doctors in such posts, these include; Medecins Sans Frontieres, Merlin, the Red Cross, and Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO).

Expedition medicine

If your desire to travel and experience the great outdoors surpasses your desire for a large (or any) salary you might consider expedition medicine. Safari, marine and polar expeditions for scientific or even charity incentives all require accompanying medics. It goes without saying that this is another area where experience in emergency medicine and infectious diseases is sought after. See www.expeditionmedicine.co.uk for more information.

Management

As a new graduate you can apply directly to the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme alongside graduates of other disciplines. The GMC also have a Graduate Management Scheme as do some of the providers of private healthcare.

It is most common for those involved in clinical management to have worked as a doctor for some time before moving into management. The British Association of Medical Managers has some useful resources online.

Academic Medicine

If you are thinking of embarking on a career in research or would like to combine clinical practice with research, it is now possible to undertake a dedicated training pathway in Academic Medicine starting at foundation level. If you are not sure at this stage whether you wish to commit to a career in academic medicine it is also possible to organise a foundation rotation.

Public Health

If you are interested in public health policy and strategy, consider looking in to the Faculty of Public Health training programme. Once you have completed your foundation training you will be eligible to apply for training to become a registered specialist in public health.

Question 7 – When is an achievement not an experience?

Question 7 on the foundation application form asks:

‘Describe one of your non-academic achievements. Explain clearly why this was an achievement for you. What did you learn from this achievement and how will it influence your approach to patient care?’

The guidance indicates that your example must not be simply an experience.

So, what makes an example more than just an experience???

Make it SMART!

Specific - Be as specific as you can about the achievement you are describing. When was it, where was it, why did you set out to do it?

Measurable – For you to have recognised that your example was an achievement you must have been measuring it in some way. Was it the first time you had attempted something? Were you competing against a number of other people? Were you aiming to better a previous attainment? Were you trying to improve the efficiency of something in particular?

Action-based – An achievement requires the exertion of effort! What actions did you undertake and how can you demonstrate the effort they required? Again, quantifying your effort will help the scorer appreciate why this is an achievement for you.

Realistic – Achievements are usually the result of successfully attained goals. Describe the goal that you set for yourself and why you chose to aim for it. How did you know when you had reached your goal?

Timed - Indicating the length of time it took you to reach the achievement will again demonstrate to the scorer the significance of what you had to do.

‘What did you learn from this achievement and how will it influence your approach to patient care?’

If you think about your achievement using the SMART formula it will be easier for you to identify your learning outcomes and future influences on patient care.

Pride comes after an achievement!

As a final test of whether you example is really an achievement – does telling someone about it make you feel proud? You know, that warm feeling you get when you know you have really, well, achieved something!

Foundation applications – frequently asked questions

Yesterday evening the Careers Service held a live web chat to answer questions from final year medical students completing foundation application forms. We covered a wide range of concerns about how to answer specific questions and have now made the transcript from the chat available to view online.

See the questions asked, and the answers given by myself and fellow medical careers consultant Jane Whitmore, by clicking on the link below:

Foundation Applications Forms Web Chat Transcript.

Question 2 – ‘Learning Needs’ – what do they mean??

Question 2 on the foundation application form asks:

‘Give two examples of specific learning needs that you identified as part of your undergraduate medical training.’

Here is my interpretation of what they may be looking for!

What is a ‘learning need’?

A learning need can also be thought of as a development need. Something that you have identified from within your medical training that you either needed to improve upon (as in improving upon a weakness) or enhance (as in adding to your existing skills/knowledge to make them even better for a specific purpose).

Why are they asking a question like this?

If you read the Rough Guide to the Foundation Programme, chapter 1, you will see that a fundamental requirement of a foundation doctor is to ’see every opportunity as a chance to learn something new’ and that as a foundation doctor you will be ‘responsible for your own learning’.

This question is your opportunity to demonstrate two different examples of when you have spotted an opportunity to learn something/enhance an existing skill and have taken it upon yourself to organise a learning opportunity.

So, when have you sought opportunities outside of your regular learning to enhance/develop your skills and knowledge?

When have you created an opportunity to learn something that will benefit your medical practice?

Being a reflective learner

The question is asking you to describe two examples of when you have identified a learning need so it goes without saying that it will be important to describe how you identified these needs. What triggered the realisation?

Being a reflective learner requires you to assess your own abilities and take action to improve them.

‘Compare and contrast your approaches to these differing needs.’

Clearly you will need two different examples. Compare and contrast implies that there may be some similarities in your learning approach but there also needs to be some differences to demonstrate that you are a reflective and adaptable learner.

‘How will you use these experiences to develop your competence and performance as a foundation doctor?’

They are looking for you to answer both the ‘competence’ and ‘performance’ parts here. You could interpret ‘competence’ as what is required of a good doctor, whilst ‘performance’ could refer to enhancing your abilities as a good doctor.

Remember back to the Rough Guide to the Foundation Programme. Why might a foundation doctor need to be responsible for their own learning and see every opportunity as a chance to learn something new?