JRCPTB and College Representatives
Professor Bill Burr worked as a Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus in Yorkshire, until moving to become Postgraduate Dean for the Yorkshire Deanery in 2001 (until 2008). Professor Burr has been involved in medical education and training for many years and represented the UK Postgraduate Deans on the JCHMT (now JRCPTB). He worked in the Department of Health as Associate Director of Medical Education in 2008, contributing to both the Next Stage Review and the English Programme Board.
Professor Burr has assumed the leadership of the JRCPTB at a time of rapid change in the organisation of postgraduate medical education (PGME), during which the Board will be adjusting to changes consequent on the merger of PMETB and the GMC as well as contributing to discussions on the future structure of PGME following the Tooke Report and the Collins Report on the future of Foundation training. The Board will be meeting GMC requirements for the review of specialty curricula and assessments as well as working with the Postgraduate Deans in the development of processes to deliver College advice on the quality management of training programmes and continuing to support physician trainees and their trainers.
Dr Liz Berkin, is a Consultant Cardiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, specialising in echocardiography. She was Training Programme Director for Core Medical Training (CMT) in the Yorkshire Deanery, and is a member of the RCP Council and ex-RCP Regional Advisor for Yorkshire. In 2008/2009, she became the Clinical Lead for the coordinated recruitment to Core Medical Training, and in 2011 is leading on the coordinated national recruitment to 12 medical specialties for the RCP/JRCPTB.
Associate Medical Directors of JRCPTB
Dr Emma Vaux is a full-time Nephrologist and Physician working at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and has been Training Programme Director for CMT in the Oxford Deanery since 2008. She is a facilitator for the Physicians as Educators programme and a member of the ePortfolio consultation group. Dr Vaux will be concentrating on CMT issues, including curriculum development, quality management (with responsibility for the CMT Annual Specialty Report), ePortfolio and clinical lead for CMT recruitment. She will also be leading on a joint quality improvement project for CMT "Learning to Make a Difference".
Professor James Barrett qualified in medicine from the University of Liverpool in 1980. He was appointed as a Consultant Physician at Wirral in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine in 1989 and is Hon Prof of Healthcare in Older People at Edge Hill University. He is the trusts Director of Medical Workforce and was the Clinical Lead for one of the original Dept of Health ‘Hospital at Night' pilot projects. James was the Chairman of the Council of the British Geriatrics Society in England 2005 - 2007 and played a leading role in developing the multi agency Dignity ‘Behind Closed Doors' campaign in 2007-2008 including its parliamentary launch.
James is currently Head of School for the Mersey Deanery School of Medicine and he is the JRCPTB Clinical Lead for e-portfolio developments.
Specialist Advisory Committees (SACs) are sub-committees of the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board. The role of these committees, through their members, is to contribute to the development of specialist training policy as it affects the specialty in question, and to supervise the delivery of training to standards set by the JRCPTB in a number of key areas:
To advise the JRCPTB on all training matters pertaining to its specialty.
- To write, review and maintain the relevant training curriculum, in line with the GMC standards, for submission for approval to the GMC.
- To work with specialist societies and others to determine the competencies of specialists in the future.
- To develop methods of performance assessment and criteria.
- To oversee trainee assessment (eg performance and knowledge based assessments).
- To provide advice on matters relevant to the specialty, for the Federation.
- To assist with the evaluation of doctors' applications for direct entry to the specialist register (CESR) as required by the GMC.
- To work with deaneries and other stakeholders to assess and ensure the quality of training and appropriate support for trainees.
- To act as an advocate for registrars in medicine, monitoring and quality controlling their training, and making recommendations to the GMC for the award of CCT.
Main Responsibilties of SAC members:
- Attending SAC meetings.
- Actively contributing to the work of the SAC in the areas described above.
- Attending Penultimate Year Assessments on behalf of the SAC.
- Pro-actively undertaking other activities on behalf of the SAC.
- Attending centrally organised induction/training days organised by the JRCPTB.
Please see the full person specification embedded in the JRCPTB Constitution for further information.
The details of upcoming SAC meetings can be found in the JRCPTB calendar.
Royal College of Physicians of London - There is an active trainees committee based at the London College. More information can be found on the main London College website:
RCP London trainees committee
You can find details of members terms here.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh - The Collegiate Members Committee - More information on how to join can be found on the main Edinburgh College website:
RCP Edinburgh trainees and members committee
Training information is available here.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow - Trainees Committee. For more information please visit the RCPSG website:
RCPSG committees
Regional Advisers and Deputy Regional Advisers are College representatives within the region. The Regional Adviser maintains a close contact with college tutors, and together with Deputy Regional Advisers, ensuring that Fellows, Members and other colleagues within the region are kept informed of College policy and activities. They are also in an ideal position to bring to the College regional opinions, ideas, doubts, suggestions and criticisms.
The Regional Adviser is also responsible, for undertaking interim reviews in liaison with Postgraduate Dean to those hospitals within his/her region that have been granted limited approval. This is to ensure the recommendations made by the GMC on General Professional Training are being carried out.
It is important that regular meetings are held between the Regional Adviser, the Deputy Regional Adviser and the collective group of RCP Tutors and Associate Tutors within the region. Where there is a Regional Office this will provide a focus for this activity.
Tutors are local representatives of the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians. There are about 270 in the country with one in most Trusts. Their role is to ensure that adequate postgraduate education is in place and that the standard of education and training of SHOs is both maintained and protected. They provide career guidance and practical support for junior medical staff and act as a safety valve should an SHO feel unable to talk to his or her supervising consultant.
College Tutors are notified of the many conferences and teach-ins which the Colleges organise and receive publications and information on training. They are therefore well placed to bring these to the attention of trainees and other colleagues. They are also able to feedback local issues to the College and should maintain regular contact with their RCP Regional Adviser and Associate Tutor.
College Tutor Job Description
Associate Tutors are doctors in training who represent the interests of those SHOs who are training for a career as a physician. They act as a link between trainees, the College Tutor and the Colleges and are based nationally within Trusts.
The issues with which the Associate Tutor is concerned are those relating to General Professional Training, postgraduate education and the maintenance of clinical standards. They are requested to hold regular meetings with trainees and quarterly meetings with their RCP Tutors, in addition to introducing themselves at SHO induction sessions.
Because an Associate Tutor has direct access to the RCP Tutor and to the College itself, he or she will be aware of College activities and can obtain career advice directly for himself/herself or for others. S/he can also give feedback to the College about educational issues and an annual seminar is held at the College to facilitate this. Associate Tutors also provide assistance to the RCP Tutor with local postgraduate medical educational activities.
Associate College Tutor Job Description
Please see updated RSA Job description below:
Regional Specialty Advisor Job Description
Updated information coming soon. In the meantime, please visit the London deanery website for its description of the role and responsibilities of the training programme director.