St George's Hospital Medical School
Policy Studies
Institute
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A new book calls for changes in the way in which medical schools select future doctors, arguing
for greater emphasis on qualities other than previous academic achievement. Choosing
Tomorrow's Doctors is published jointly by the Policy Studies Institute and St George's
Hospital Medical School and brings together papers from a conference organised by St George's
in 1996. |
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Among those calling for change is Tessa Blackstone, the new Higher and Further Education
Minister, who says that medical schools should do far more to encourage mature applicants, and
calls for a faster track through medical school for these students. Chris McManus, Professor of
Psychology at Imperial College School of Medicine, argues for selecting medical students on
things other than A level scores such as their study habits. He presents evidence that by selecting
on A levels alone medical schools are not selecting those students who are strongly motivated
to get the clinical experience they need. |
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One of the editors of Choosing Tomorrow's Doctors, Isobel Allen of Policy Studies
Institute, writes in her paper that there is a pressing need to look at the careers advice given to
young people considering a career in medicine. Her research among doctors has shown that
many were unprepared for what is involved, and that many regretted having gone into medicine.
"There is a need to ensure that people do not enter the medical profession just because
they are good at science," she says. |
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The book takes a broad view of what society should expect from tomorrow's doctors, what they
expect from their careers, and how medical schools can go about selecting the right students
more fairly. Philip Brown and Patricia Hughes from St George's - co-editors of the book and the
organisers of the 1996 conference - say "It is vital that medical educators and practitioners
re-examine what type of doctor society needs and whether we are going about choosing them in
the most effective way. Medicine is changing fast, and with new innovative curricula in medical
schools we need to choose students who can cope with uncertainty and study
independently." |
ENDS
| Further press information from: |
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Philip Brown, Curriculum Development Office St George's Hospital Medical School 0181-725 5919 e-mail: p.brown@sghms.ac.uk |
| Note to editors: |
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Choosing Tomorrow's Doctors is published by the Policy Studies Institute and St
George's Hospital Medical School (editors Isobel Allen, Philip Brown and Patricia Hughes),
priced £9.95, Available from: |
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Policy Studies Institute, 100 Park Village East, London NW1 3SR. |
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email : pubs@psi.org.uk phone : 0171 468 0468 fax : 0171 388 0914 |
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