The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is celebrating its MSc in Medical Leadership students as they become the first to graduate from the innovative programme.
The 3 year postgraduate course began in 2009 and today eight students will be awarded their master’s degree at a graduation ceremony hosted by partner institution, Birkbeck College.
The three-stage certificate, diploma and masters course focuses on the non-clinical skills that are essential to senior positions, such as understanding organisational change, motivating a team and performance management.
Dr Aneil Malhotra, an ST5 trainee in cardiology and now graduate of the MSc in Medical Leadership, commented:
Our training as doctors has a very clinical focus, whereas now more emphasis is being placed on leadership and management skills that aren’t routine to us at all. The MSc taught me the theory of leadership and management, which I was then able to apply in my workplace.
The course has been specially designed to equip doctors with the practical skills and expertise to lead clinical and multi-professional teams at all levels. Informal discussion events with medical leaders are a key element of the course. Past speakers have included chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, former permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Lord Crisp, and editor of the British Medical Journal, Dr Fiona Godlee.
The MSc in Medical Leadership is open to both primary and secondary care doctors. Today, psychiatrist Ben Clark will be awarded a special prize for his final project, which looked at behaviour change in doctors.
Find out more about the MSc in Medical Leadership.
Applications for the MSc in Medical Leadership are open until 1 July 2013.