New Director Of Medical Education For England

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 08 Dec 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Dr Patricia Hamilton has been appointed as the new Director of Medical Education for England and will take up her post in the new year.

Patricia will replace interim Director Professor David Sowden. David will be working with Patricia initially in a hand over period.

Patricia is currently the President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Neonatal Paediatrics at St. George's Hospital Medical School, London and a member of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board.

As the Director for Medical Education for England Patricia will be in charge of the Modernising Medical Careers Programme. Her remit will cover the full range of medical training: from undergraduate, through pre-registration and Foundation Programme training and specialty and GP training, up to the award of the Certificate of Completion of Training and certain aspects of Continuing Professional Development.

NHS Medical Director Professor Bruce Keogh said:

"I am delighted that Patricia is joining the medical directorate at the Department of Health. Her experience in paediatric medicine and postgraduate medical training will prove invaluable in developing Medical Education for England.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Professor David Sowden, who over the last year has made an enormous contribution to both the Next Stage Review broadly and specifically to Medical Education where his leadership has been outstanding."

Patricia Hamilton said:

"I greatly look forward to taking up the appointment as Director of Medical Education for England and to the challenges that this appointment will bring. The excellent foundations that David and the current MMC and Medical Education Team in the Workforce Directorate have created are a tremendous legacy on which to build."

Notes:

Patricia Hamilton was appointed through open competition. She is President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, having previously been Vice President for Training and Assessment and prior to that Honorary Secretary. She remains a Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Neonatal Paediatrics at St George's Hospital Medical School, London. She qualified from The University of Bristol and trained in Paediatrics in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford and Vancouver. She is an active clinician in Neonatology and her research interests have included the pathophysiology of birth asphyxia. She has been a Medical Director at St George's Hospital. Patricia has been closely involved in developing new training programmes and teaching methods. She has chaired the Steering Group of Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and national Institute of Innovation and Improvement that has produced a competency framework for Medical leadership. She has been involved in the Darzi Leadership work stream and chaired the London Children's Clinical Pathway Group. She is Vice President of the European Academy of Paediatrics.

The Department of Health has created the post of Director of Medical Education (DME) to be the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the MMC Programme.

The DME post has a remit covering the full range of medical training: from undergraduate, through pre-registration and Foundation Programme training and specialty and GP training, up to the award of the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and certain aspects of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

The post holder will work with the professional regulators, Royal Colleges, Deaneries, employers, trades unions, universities and others and will report directly to the NHS Medical Director who has operational responsibility for delivering quality and safety in the NHS, a key component of which is overseeing postgraduate medical education and training and ensuring the workforce is fit for purpose. The DME will co-chair the MMC (England) Programme Board and will be a member of NHS Medical Education England (MEE).

There will be a transition period while Patricia Hamilton completes work commitments with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health before joining the Department on a permanent basis.

Source:
http://www.dh.gov.uk