Electives Dr Connie Wiskin Senior Lecturer Academic Lead – Elective SSC Team: Emma Jordan, Leon Salter

On Schedule…. Reminder! Things to doDeadlines  Source an elective supervisor  Start developing ideas for an elective project Thursday 20 th October 2011, 12.00pm Deadline for project registration and Supervisor Consent  Continue work on project protocol  Complete Health and Safety forms in conjunction with elective supervisor Thursday 14 th December, 12.00pm Deadline for: Protocol Health & Safety forms Safety & Feasibility forms  Finalising elective plans  Get travel vaccinations Thursday 29 th March – Deadline for c ontact details and confirmed travel itineraries Elective period - 2 nd April – 18 th May

Motivations?

Reminder…… The elective may be fun, exciting; challenging; a change from routine, but above all else it is an important learning experience. It is a great opportunity to get something on your CV / FY1 application that will differentiate you from others IT IS A PROGRESSION HURDLE AND MUST BE ACADEMICALLY ROBUST! It is a privilege not given to other students Nick Ross Feb 2008

Robust?  Properly contextualised  Modelled on a publication or published style  Thoroughly referenced (clinical area, demographics, methodologies etc as apply)  A relevant subject that is important, and adds to the knowledge base  Why do you need to be in that location, to do that project?  So ask yourself “the point of this is…. WHAT…?” before submitting your protocol

Publication types eg…  Journal research article (qualitative or quantitative research, audit, evaluation etc) Diabetes Self-management Study (DSS) - A demographic and clinical approach to patients' diabetes knowledge. Diabetes Self-management Study (DSS) - A demographic and clinical approach to patients' diabetes knowledge. (Gill, Kumar & Wiskin 2008 International Journal of Health Promotion and Education)  Anthropological report/editorial Babies and bananas: one foot in Rwanda (Elswood 1979 BMJ) …. But must be referenced!  Reflective report Kolb, Gibbs

1 st Task Protocol  a) Student ID /IDs b) Student name or names c) Project title d) Project type (data collection or reflective) e) Placement details (the hospital/University/laboratory where the project is being undertaken) f) Keywords (A snapshot of what the project is about. No more than five 'words' please.) g) Professional development aims h) Personal development aims i) Project summary (to include the justification of your project choice as well as key literature (up to 10 references)) Word limit: words – or about 2.5 pages of single spaced A4

Safety First! At risk of being ‘parental’ PLEASE note the following…. You are intelligent, but not indestructible!  You may be at risk re, eg, AIDS and Hepatitis  Know your locality – at home and away….  Poor/unfamiliar road conditions and rogue transport operators can cost lives  The biggest cause of accidents is ‘leisure’ pursuit outside of the clinical environment (these can be fatal)   check LOOK AFTER YOU!

Insurance  Adequate cover for all eventualities – i.e. loss of baggage, extra curricular activities or worse case scenario, RESITS!! the BMA provide adequate elective cover as well as curtailment cover for resit exams/conference poster presentations.  There may be other companies but PLEASE check your fine print.

If problems occur on site  We can you responsible for things you’ve not planned well, or should have foreseen  We will NOT hold you responsible for the inevitable changes/challenges/barriers that can occur on location  If there is a problem, be flexible – what CAN you achieve with what you have?  If the political or environmental climate changes and you are not comfortable GET OUT! You are more important than the report!!!

Status?  SSA (3,000 words)  Write up advice at Yr 5 SSC evening  Personal & professional opportunity  Meeting project landmarks is a requirement for MBChB Graduation  Requirements – timely submissions to meet deadlines for all paperwork, a robust protocol, evidenced completion of the Elective, academic report  Sanctions will apply in the event of failure on the above (ranging from withdrawal of financial support to threat to graduation)  Academic difficulty – re-sit, with failure considered a year 5 fail  Professional difficulty – managed at College level Cautionary note – in addition misbehaviour or lack of professionalism on the Elective will be referred to Fitness to Practice

Contacts  SSC Team – not individual academics please!  We have a system!  There are standard letters already in place for you…  Ditto information re Bursaries etc.

Effective Applications for Electives for detailed information on creating an effective medical CV, covering letters and supporting information. CVs and applications can be checked in person or via . Want a CV to get you noticed? Tips on how to impress and showcase your key skills and achievements? Go to the careers web page Do get in touch with your Careers Consultant Jenny Mullins- White, via the interactive Careers Service at or j.mullins-

Bursaries  There are School run and External bursaries you can apply for  NB School ones total about 30, so they are highly competitive (so plan according to your means, and have a B-plan!)  Look elsewhere too – WELLCOME, for example, and subject specific opportunities  Thoughtless applications represent us poorly, and could result in exclusion for al you apply for internally…. (example)

It’s what YOU make it