Medical Academic Staff Committee newsletter
May 2008
Welcome to the May newsletter of the Medical Academic Staff Committee (MASC). This update provides information on:
- Staff and Associate Specialist contract and academics
- Women in Academic Medicine Final Report launch at the House of Lords
- Polyclinics and education and research
- 2009 Academic Clinical Fellowship recruitment
- Amendments to the Clinical Academic Consultant Contract
- Last chance to book a place at COMAR 2008
- Annual report of the MASC 2007-08
- Cancer Research UK funding opportunities
In March 2008, staff and associate specialist doctors (SAS) voted in favour of accepting the new contract negotiated between the BMA and NHS Employers. We are aware that a number of SAS doctors are also clinical academics who are most likely employed at Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, Imperial, Kings, Manchester, Queen Mary, Sheffield, University College London medical schools.
If you are a SAS clinical academic we would like to hear from you. Please email info.masc@bma.org.uk
Women in Academic Medicine final report launch at the House of Lords
The Women in Academic Medicine (WAM) Project has launched its full report 'Women in academic medicine: developing equality in governance and management for career progression' on Wednesday 30 April by Baroness Ilora Finlay at the House of Lords. Speakers at the event included the Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldson and Teresa May MP. Recommendations for action to ameliorate barriers to women’s career progression are written in the report not only for government and institutions but also for individuals – yourselves.
Please take time to consider what action you can take. MASC are interested in all areas of good practice so do let us know how best we can support you. A copy of the final report can be downloaded from the BMA website.
Polyclinics and education and research
At its meeting on 18 April, the MASC expressed concern that pilot polyclinics do not explicitly include education and research in their development plans. The committee is seeking assurances that polyclinics have the appropriate funding to deliver education and training, the physical space to teach, appropriately qualified staff to deliver education and training and proper access to patients and the central records system for research/clinical trials (to ensure that advances being made through the Primary Care Research Network are not lost).
2009 Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) Recruitment
The MASC also discussed two key issues facing academic recruitment in 2009. The first is that many clinical specialties used different person specifications in 2008 compared to 2007 because the latter were criticised as not being fit for purpose. The second issue is that the major medical and surgical specialties opted to ‘uncouple’ between ST2 and ST3, thus often limiting training to two years before competitive entry into ST3.
Because academic training took place before clinical recruitment, neither of these changes were implemented for 2008 ACF recruitment. After a considered discussion, the Committee unanimously agreed that ACF person specifications should be amended to make them fit for purpose. It was also agreed that ACFs should be appointed to three year posts, as this is the recommended length of the ACF programme and there are numerous competitive entry points along the academic training pathway. We will shortly be taking this issue forward with key stakeholders.
A full list of all the issues discussed at the MASC on 18 April is available online.
Amendments to the Clinical Academic Consultant Contract
To ensure that clinical academic consultants receive the correct starting salary, we have been agreeing some adjustments to the model contractual documentation with the University and Colleges Employers Association. A summary of the changes can be found online.
Conference of Medical Academic Representatives – Friday 16 May 2008
Our Annual Conference is fast approaching. The programme of events scheduled for Friday 16 May includes keynote speeches on the integrated academic training programme, the differential exam performance of graduates from UK medical schools and academic performance management. A number of places are still available to attend. More information and to register go to the conference webpage.
Annual report of the MASC 2007-08
A report on the activities of MASC has been produced. Please feel free to circulate this link to all those who may find it of interest.
Cancer Research UK funding opportunities
We have been alerted to a range of temporary research funding opportunities at Cancer Research UK that may be of particular interest to academic trainees – please pass on to those as appropriate. For more information go to http://science.cancerresearchuk.org/gapp/personalfund/otherbursaries/
I hope this is helpful
kind regards
Sally
Sally Girgis
Committee Secretary
Medical Academic Staff Committee