Volume 189 - Issue 7
Changes to the University of Sydney medical curriculum
Authors: Kerry J Goulston and R Kim Oates
Med J Aust 2008; 189 (7): 414-415. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb02104.x
Published online: 6 October 2008
Published online: 6 October 2008
In reply: We are in sympathy with Taylor’s concerns about the length of medical training and point out that a more careful reading of our review of the University of Sydney Medical Program1 contained the following comments (on page 203):
Discussion with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians canvassed the possibility that students might master some educational modules during their medical degree which would be credited by the College. This could well apply to other Colleges. Such a process would be more easily achieved if the Colleges moved to an overall “point system” i.e. students (especially in nonclinical areas such as Ethics, Quality and Safety etc) could study postgraduate modules pari passu with the USydMP, gaining some points towards their chosen college specialty qualification.
This is followed by three recommendations on page 204:
Students with an early interest in a specialty could gain some speciality experience or credit towards their specialty by either working towards an MPhil and by making use of the electives, options and Honours research project.
The future situation with regard to medical training in some of the specialties is fluid eg, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is introducing a method of streaming for surgical training (SET) and IMET [Institute of Medical Education and Training] is looking at criteria for competency in the residency years. In view of this the Dean should explore further opportunities for streaming when the options for future specialty training become clearer.
Early streaming should be re-examined by Faculty when the curriculum and educational changes being considered by some of the Colleges become clearer.
References
- University of Sydney. Review of the University of Sydney Medical Program. October 2007. http://www.medfac.usyd.edu.au/forstaff/usydmp-review/USYDMP_Report_online.pdf (accessed Aug 2008).