Just 7 months since the introduction of two new membership categories, the number of Royal College of Physicians (RCP) medical student and foundation doctor members has passed 500.
In the same month, the RCP’s total membership and fellowship has shot past 27,000 for the first time in the 494-year-old organisation’s history.
The medical student and foundation doctor membership categories are designed to help future physicians develop in their career and gain from the expertise within the RCP. A key focus of both new membership categories is to provide tools and guidance for doctors progressing from the university teaching environment to hospital wards and eventually to core and specialty training.
Hannah Karimzadeh, a third-year medical student at the University of Liverpool, this month became the 500th student and foundation doctor member. Commenting on joining the RCP, Hannah said:
I’m definitely interested in the physician path and think I might like to go into neurology, rheumatology, or maybe general internal medicine. I wanted to join the RCP so I could find out more about medical specialties and hopefully benefit from support and resources.
RCP medical student and foundation doctor members benefit from:
- free webstreamed teach-ins and lectures
- access to RCP resources including, the Clinical Medicine, lesson of the month case reports and library services
- discounts on RCP conferences and products including the Medical Masterclass MRCP(UK) revision products for foundation doctors
- careers information drawn from expertise in 32 medical specialties
- guidance on learning and medical practice through how-to guides and online forums
- medical elective funding opportunities for medical students.
The RCP is holding its first ever dedicated medical careers day for medical students and foundation doctors on Saturday 28 April. The event will feature talks and discussions with leading UK physicians and is the only UK medical careers fair to have consultants and trainees from all 32 medical specialties on-hand to answer questions and offer advice.
Read more information and register to attend the RCP medical careers day
President of the RCP, Sir Richard Thompson, said:
I am delighted to welcome Hannah as our 500th student and foundation doctor member, and I am very pleased to see so much interest in the two new membership categories. A career in medicine offers fantastic opportunities and it is important for us to help these future consultants develop into tomorrow’s leaders.
Treasurer of the RCP, Professor Linda Luxon, said:
RCP student and foundation doctor membership offers young doctors the opportunity to get involved with an organisation dedicated to setting higher standards. These doctors will inherit the medical profession and so it is vital that they are involved in shaping the healthcare systems of the future.
The two new membership categories, coupled with consultant expansion, have contributed towards the rise in overall numbers. Physicians work in 32 medical specialties in every general hospital in the UK, and are at the heart of providing healthcare to patients.
For further information, please contact Andrew McCracken, RCP Communications and New Media Adviser, on +44 (0)203 075 1354 / 07990 745 608, or email andrew.mccracken@rcplondon.ac.uk