Electives 2011-12Electives 2011-12

Dr Connie WiskinDr Connie WiskinSenior LecturerSenior Lecturer

Academic Lead – ElectiveAcademic Lead – Elective

SSC TeamSSC Team: Emma Jordan, Leon : Emma Jordan, Leon SalterSalter

On Schedule…. Reminder!On Schedule…. Reminder!

Things to do Deadlines Source an elective supervisor Start developing ideas for an elective project

Thursday 20th 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 14th December, 12.00pmDeadline for: Protocol Health & Safety formsSafety & Feasibility forms

Finalising elective plans Get travel vaccinations

Thursday 29th March – Deadline for contact details and confirmed travel itineraries

Elective period - 2nd April – 18th May

Motivations?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?Robust?

Properly contextualisedProperly contextualised Modelled on a publication or published styleModelled on a publication or published style Thoroughly referenced (clinical area, Thoroughly referenced (clinical area,

demographics, methodologies etc as apply)demographics, methodologies etc as apply) A relevant subject that is important, and adds to A relevant subject that is important, and adds to

the knowledge basethe knowledge base Why do you need to be in that location, to do Why do you need to be in that location, to do

that project?that project? So ask yourself “the point of this is…. WHAT…?” So ask yourself “the point of this is…. WHAT…?”

before submitting your protocolbefore submitting your protocol

Publication types eg…Publication types eg… Journal research article (qualitative or quantitative Journal research article (qualitative or quantitative

research, audit, evaluation etc)research, audit, evaluation etc)Diabetes Self-management Study (DSS) - A demographic and clinical approach to patients' diabetes knowledge.

(Gill, Kumar & Wiskin 2008 International Journal of Health (Gill, Kumar & Wiskin 2008 International Journal of Health

Promotion and Education)Promotion and Education)

Anthropological report/editorialAnthropological report/editorialBabies and bananas: one foot in Rwanda (Elswood 1979

BMJ) …. But must be referenced!

Reflective reportReflective reportKolb, GibbsKolb, Gibbs

11stst Task Protocol Task Protocol a)    Student ID /IDsa)    Student ID /IDs

b)     Student name or namesb)     Student name or names

c)    Project titlec)    Project title

d)    Project type (data collection or reflective)d)    Project type (data collection or reflective)

e)    Placement details (the hospital/University/laboratory where the e)    Placement details (the hospital/University/laboratory where the project    is being undertaken)project    is being undertaken)

f)    Keywords (A snapshot of what the project is about. No more  than f)    Keywords (A snapshot of what the project is about. No more  than five 'words' please.)five 'words' please.)

g)    Professional development aimsg)    Professional development aims

h)    Personal development aimsh)    Personal development aims

i)    Project summary (to include the i)    Project summary (to include the justification of your projectjustification of your project choice as choice as well as key literature (up to 10 references))well as key literature (up to 10 references))

Word limit: 1000-1500 words – or about 2.5 pages of single spaced A4Word limit: 1000-1500 words – or about 2.5 pages of single spaced A4

Safety First!Safety First!At risk of being ‘parental’ PLEASE note the At risk of being ‘parental’ PLEASE note the

following…. You are intelligent, but not following…. You are intelligent, but not indestructible!indestructible!

You may be at risk re, eg, AIDS and Hepatitis You may be at risk re, eg, AIDS and Hepatitis Know your locality – at home and away….Know your locality – at home and away…. Poor/unfamiliar road conditions and rogue Poor/unfamiliar road conditions and rogue

transport operators can cost livestransport operators can cost lives The biggest cause of accidents is ‘leisure’ The biggest cause of accidents is ‘leisure’

pursuit outside of the clinical environment (these pursuit outside of the clinical environment (these can be fatal)can be fatal)

http://www.fco.gov.uk/ checkLOOK AFTER YOU!LOOK AFTER YOU!

InsuranceInsurance

Adequate cover for all eventualities – i.e. Adequate cover for all eventualities – i.e. loss of baggage, extra curricular activities loss of baggage, extra curricular activities or worse case scenario, RESITS!! the or worse case scenario, RESITS!! the BMA provide adequate elective cover as BMA provide adequate elective cover as well as curtailment cover for resit well as curtailment cover for resit exams/conference poster presentations. exams/conference poster presentations.

There may be other companies but There may be other companies but PLEASE check your fine print.PLEASE check your fine print.

If problems occur on siteIf problems occur on site We can you responsible for things you’ve not We can you responsible for things you’ve not

planned well, or should have foreseenplanned well, or should have foreseen

We will We will NOTNOT hold you responsible for the hold you responsible for the inevitable changes/challenges/barriers that can inevitable changes/challenges/barriers that can occur on locationoccur on location

If there is a problem, If there is a problem, be flexiblebe flexible – what CAN you – what CAN you achieve with what you have?achieve with what you have?

If the political or environmental climate changes If the political or environmental climate changes and you are not comfortable GET OUT! You are and you are not comfortable GET OUT! You are more important than the report!!!more important than the report!!!

Status?Status? SSA SSA (3,000 words)(3,000 words) Write up advice at Yr 5 SSC eveningWrite up advice at Yr 5 SSC evening Personal & professional opportunityPersonal & professional opportunity Meeting project landmarks Meeting project landmarks isis a requirement for MBChB a requirement for MBChB

GraduationGraduation Requirements – timely submissions to meet deadlines for all Requirements – timely submissions to meet deadlines for all

paperwork, a robust protocol, evidenced completion of the paperwork, a robust protocol, evidenced completion of the Elective, academic reportElective, academic report

Sanctions will apply in the event of failure on the above Sanctions will apply in the event of failure on the above (ranging from withdrawal of financial support to threat to (ranging from withdrawal of financial support to threat to graduation)graduation)

Academic difficulty – re-sit, with failure considered a year 5 failAcademic difficulty – re-sit, with failure considered a year 5 fail Professional difficulty – managed at College levelProfessional difficulty – managed at College levelCautionary note – in addition misbehaviour or lack Cautionary note – in addition misbehaviour or lack

of professionalism on the Elective will be of professionalism on the Elective will be referred to Fitness to Practicereferred to Fitness to Practice

ContactsContacts

SSC Team – not individual SSC Team – not individual academics please!academics please!

We have a system!We have a system! There are standard letters already in place There are standard letters already in place

for you…for you… Ditto information re Bursaries etc.Ditto information re Bursaries etc.

Effective Applications for Electives

http://www.as.bham.ac.uk/careers/college/mds.shtml for detailed information on creating an effective medical CV, covering letters and supporting information.

CVs and applications can be checked in person or via email.

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

www.as.bham.ac.uk/careers or email

j.mullins-white@bham.ac.uk

BursariesBursaries

There are School run and External bursaries you There are School run and External bursaries you can apply forcan apply for

NB School ones total about 30, so they are NB School ones total about 30, so they are highlyhighly competitive (so plan according to your competitive (so plan according to your means, and have a B-plan!)means, and have a B-plan!)

Look elsewhere too – WELLCOME, for example, Look elsewhere too – WELLCOME, for example, and subject specific opportunitiesand subject specific opportunities

Thoughtless applications represent us poorly, Thoughtless applications represent us poorly, and could result in exclusion for al you apply for and could result in exclusion for al you apply for internally…. internally…. (example)(example)

It’s what It’s what YOUYOU make it make it