News

NIMDTA officially recognised and celebrated the success of its high achieving Trainees during its Fifth Annual ‘Educational Excellence Awards’ on Wednesday 15 June 2022.

Over 190 participants attended the awards ceremony which also contributed 3 hours towards GMC Trainer Recognition.

Dr Ian Steele, Postgraduate Dean and Director of Education for NIMDTA said,

“This years’ event was extra special for two main reasons. It was the first time since 2019 that the event was able to reconvene following the impact of the pandemic, and it was also the first time the event was delivered in a virtual capacity.

We were delighted to welcome Professor Sir Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer from the Department of Health, to deliver this year’s Keynote Address.

During his address Professor McBride acknowledged the wealth of talent amongst NIMDTA Trainees, their dedication to their professions, and their ability to deliver such highly innovative and inspiring outcomes in addition to their training and workload.

It was a pleasure to hear from all the Speakers who delivered high quality presentations with such passion and enthusiasm. The amount of research and outcomes from the presentations was inspiring.

Congratulations once again to all Nominees and Winners, and thank to all those who attended the celebrations.”

Dr Steele also chaired the event and introduced presentations from the 2021/22 ADEPT Clinical Leadership Fellows on projects that they have been engaged in during their ADEPT year at their host organisations

Denise Hughes, Senior Education Manager for NIMDTA also co-hosted the event and introduced a series of presentations showcasing ‘Innovations in Postgraduate Medical & Dental Education and Training in Northern Ireland’ from all HSCNI Trusts and NIMDTA.

Following this Dr Steele introduced presentations from Succeed Postgraduate Education Fellows on the positive impact the NIMDTA SUCCEED programme has had within their specialty schools.

The highlight of the event saw the announcement of the ‘Awards for Educational Excellence’.

The Winners were:

Each Winner received a glass plaque to mark the occasion and their outstanding contribution to medical education.

To view the event programme, see the link below:

Educational Excellence Day Programme 2022

Voting is NOW OPEN to select the TOP 3 Quality Improvement Projects delivered by delegates from this years’ ENGAGE Clinical Leadership and Improvement Programme!

Established by NIMDTA, in association with the HSC Leadership Centre, the ENGAGE Clinical Leadership and Improvement Programme aims to challenge, develop and support doctors and dentists who are within 6 to 18 months of CCT in specialty training, to ensure they are prepared to lead effectively, influence, shape and improve the delivery of high quality patient-centred care across the Health and Social Care System.

Showcase Event Registration

This years’ ‘𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗚𝗘 Clinical Leadership Programme Showcase Event’ is taking place on Monday 27 June, via Zoom, from 7.00pm – 8.10pm.

To register your attendance click here.

How to Vote

Voting is easy and can be completed in two simple steps:

1. Click on the following link to review all of this years’ narrated poster presentations:

2022 Poster Presentations

The access password has been email to all delegates.

2. Once you have selected the presentations you wish to vote for, enter your selection here.

Please note : Voting closes Wednesday 22 June at 12noon

The top 3 scoring delegates will be notified and asked to provide an oral presentation during the live event on Monday 27 June. The overall winner will then be selected by our esteemed panel of expert judges during the event.

Good luck to all our delegates and we look forward to seeing you all at the event.

For further information or any queries, please contact:  ValuedTrainees@hscni.net

(L-R) Mr Phil Rodgers, Director of Workforce Policy, Department of Health and Mr Peter May, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health visit Beechill House on Tuesday 6 June 2022. Greeting them on arrival are Dr Ian Steele, Postgraduate Dean and Director of Education, NIMDTA, and Mr Mark McCarey, Chief Executive, NIMDTA.

Mr Peter May, Permanent Secretary and Mr Phil Rodgers, Director of Workforce Policy [DoH] visited Beechill House on Tuesday 6 June 2022.

Greeted by Mr Mark McCarey, Chief Executive & Dr Ian Steele, Postgraduate Medical Dean & Director of Education, the visit presented an opportunity to discuss the current work of NIMDTA, provide insight into the operational and strategic context of NIMDTA and discuss key issues as we continue to develop our Strategic Plan for 2023-28.

During the visit Mr May and Mr Rodgers met members of the NIMDTA Senior Management Committee, the NIMDTA Chair, and took the opportunity to view our premises and meet various members of staff.

Mr McCarey said, “I would like to thank both Mr May and Mr Rodgers for taking time to visit Beechill House today. It presented a great opportunity to meet face-to-face following many months of virtual contact. NIMDTA is at an early stage of preparing the framework for its strategic plan 2023-2028, and the discussions with the Permanent Secretary identified a couple of areas where we can work together in advance of the completion of this work. I look forward to engaging in this work throughout 2022-23, and am delighted that input from the Permanent Secretary’s office will help shape the future of NIMDTA operations.”

(L-R) Pictured are Mr Phil Rodgers, Director of Workforce Policy, Department of Health and Mr Peter May, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health, Dr Ian Steele, Postgraduate Dean and Director of Education, NIMDTA, Mr Mark McCarey, Chief Executive, NIMDTA, Mr Derek Wilson Chairman NIMDTA Board, and Mrs Joanne Turner, Senior HR Manager (Trainee Employment), NIMDTA.

A lecture is to be delivered by Dame Ann Johnston (Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London, Co-Director of UCL Health of the Public and President of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences) at Queen’s University Belfast on 20 June 2022 at 4:30pm.

For further information and to register, please visit https://www.qub.ac.uk/events/making-medical-science-work.

We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the next GP Training ‘Learning and Teaching Programme’ for 2022/23.

The number of GP Trainees within Northern Ireland has increased, and whilst this is excellent news, it is important that there is a sufficient number of eligible GP Training Practices to help deliver the level of training required.

Why become a GP Trainer?

Benefits include:

• Funding Opportunities for your Practice
• New peer-support network
• Better GP Retention opportunities for your Practice
• Enhanced reputation for your Practice
• Gain a different perspective on General Practice work
• Develop as a mentor and educator

What is the eligibility criterion?

To meet the eligibility criteria you must:

• be a Partner or salaried doctor in a GP Practice
• have adequate capacity within the Practice for training
• have been on Primary Medical Performer’s List in Northern Ireland for at least 2 years post certification
• have worked at least 4 sessions with another GP Trainer if based in a current training practice; or 5 or more sessions if based within a new training practice
• complete the NIMDTA Learning & Teaching (L&T) Programme and passed the Portfolio assessment within a suitable timeframe (see ‘Becoming a GP Trainer’ booklet for further info). To being L&T you must also have been on Primary Medical Performer’s List in Northern Ireland for at least 1 year post certification.
• have no current undertakings or conditions applied by the GMC or HSCB.

How do I apply?

Applications take just 5 minutes to complete online.

You will need:

• GMC Registration Number
• Practice Number/Code
• List of relevant qualifications

To begin your application click here

The closing date for applications is Friday 12 August 2022.

Further Information and support:

For full details on L&T courses and to view a list of frequently asked questions click here

Alternatively, please email any specific queries to: gpspecialitytraining.nimdta@hscni.net

The General Medical Council’s (GMC) 2022 national training survey is still open, so don’t miss out on an opportunity to share YOUR valuable feedback.

Who is the survey for?

The survey provides medical trainees and trainers in NI an important opportunity to voice views on postgraduate training and the results will give the GMC, medical education bodies, and employers the data they need to check that trainees are receiving high-quality training, and that trainers are supported in their roles.

The GMC is urging doctors at all levels and specialties, both supervising and training, to give their views.

How long will it take to complete the survey?

This year’s survey is optimised for mobile phone, tablet, or desktop computer and will take around 15 minutes to complete – and you can save and return to your answers at several points.

There is also a shorter 5 minute survey designed specifically for trainers. Questions cover topics such as:

• Workloads and burnout
• Time available to deliver, receive or catch-up on training
• Access to break rooms and study spaces
• The impact of incivility and rudeness in workplaces

You will need your GMC reference number and password to access the survey.

What will the survey achieve?

This year’s survey will provide vital information about the ongoing impact of the pandemic on doctors’ progression, work, and wellbeing.

Last year’s survey showed the quality of training remained high, despite intense pressures resulting from the pandemic. However, the wellbeing of trainees and those training them came into sharp focus as rising levels of burnout were reflected. The results are now being applied to ongoing workforce planning and future support for trainees, as the UK’s health systems begin to emerge from the pandemic.

Professor Colin Melville, the GMC’s Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards, said: “The pandemic is entering its third year, and will continue to impact healthcare for the foreseeable future. This survey is vital in giving us a year-on-year insight into how medical training is being affected. But, most importantly, it shines a spotlight on what can be done to support trainees and trainers at a local and national level. ‘We believe in promoting a culture of reflection and improvement across medical education and the more voices we hear from the more impact we can have.”

Complete your survey today by logging in to your GMC Online account or visit www.gmc-uk.org/nts for more information about how your answers can drive change.

Registration is now open to become a Peer Mentor – you can download a PDF of the advert by clicking the image below.

Further information is available on the Coaching and Mentoring page.
You can register at https://nimdta.sfgmentornet.com/User/Register?program=1&role=Mentor.

Teaching Innovation & Excellence (TIE) Prize 2022

Closing Date: 25th March 2022

https://www.asme.org.uk/awards/awards/tasme-tie-prize-2022.html

The prize recognises talent and ingenuity displayed by those embarking on a career in medical education. The prize will be primarily focused on recognising teaching, but consideration will be given to entries that showcase other relevant educational activity.

Candidates will self-nominate through the application process to demonstrate their teaching innovation and excellence. The application will consist of a structured written application form and may be supported by links to other appropriate media (e.g. websites, video or additional materials to help illustrate the innovation). Group applications will be considered, but the input of each individual within the group must be made explicitly clear and only one member of the group will be able to present for the prize if shortlisted.

Applicants may be asked to provide a named supporter (e.g. educational supervisor or mentor) to provide further supporting evidence after shortlisting.

Shortlisted entrants will then be invited to give a ten-minute presentation followed by five minutes of questions at the ASME Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 6th-8th July 2022 in Aberdeen, to a panel of judges and an audience as part of the TIE Prize session.

TASME Mentorship Prize 2022

Closing Date: 31st March 2022

https://www.asme.org.uk/awards/awards/tasme-mentorship-prize-2022.html

This award will provide resources for an early career health professions educator to develop a mentorship relationship that will support their development as an educator. It recognises that TASME is not just for trainees, but for all early career health professions educators, be they allied health professionals, clinical scientists, or doctors not in training posts.

Candidates will self-nominate through the application process to demonstrate how they will use the resources to develop a mentoring relationship, and in what way this may benefit their career as a health professions educator. The TASME Mentorship Award is an individual award.

As well as the prize, the winner will be asked to provide a photo of them meeting with their mentor with a caption for the ASME newsletter. The winner will also be asked to share what they have learned with the TASME community. The medium by which this is done is flexible but should be described in the application.

Online applications to the 2022 BMA medical book awards are now open and will close on Friday 18 March 2022.

The BMA medical book awards takes place annually to recognise outstanding contributions to medical literature. There are 15 BMA medical book awards categories available for 2022. Please click here if you would like to view the explanation for BMA medical book awards categories.

The online entry form, including conditions of entry, can be found here. All titles must have been published between January and December 2021.

The deadline for applications is Friday 18 March 2022. If you have any questions about the awards, please contact the awards team at info.bkawards@bma.org.uk.

Would you like to be a volunteer reviewer for the BMA medical book awards (MBA)?

The BMA are recruiting volunteer reviewers for the BMA medical book awards (MBA). The MBA recognises outstanding contribution to medical literature.

Reviewers for the awards have a key role in advising on the quality and suitability of each application. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer for the MBA, please get in touch with the awards team on info.bkawards@bma.org.uk. The reviewing process for the will start in March 2022.

Invite to participate in research on doctors’ and medical students’ financial needs in the UK. 

The Research Department of Medical Education (RDME) at University College London (UCL) is inviting doctors and medical students to take part in a survey and/or interviews to identify the extent of unmet financial need in the medical profession. The study is commissioned by the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund. You can participate until the 31^st of January 2022.

 Survey. All doctors and medical students are invited to share their views on financial needs and difficulties within the medical profession. Participants will receive a certificate and be entered into a prize draw. Please follow this link: https://redcap.idhs.ucl.ac.uk/surveys/?s=ANWPEFMCX7P3K8EH

Interviews. If you are experiencing/have experienced financial difficulties due to ill-health, they would like to talk to you about your experiences in an interview (appr 45-60 min; phone or face-to-face). Please contact  Dr Rowena Viney (r.viney@ucl.ac.uk).