We understand the concerns raised about the RCP chief examiner role currently being advertised and want to be clear what this role entails and requires.
Most of the work of the Chief Examiner is related to the physician associate national exam and, while they do support the assessment team in the delivery of other exams and have an appraisal role, no PA would be eligible to be an actual clinical examiner for the MRCP (UK), which sits under the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. PACES sits under the senior PACES examiner who currently sits on the RCP Council.
Clinical expertise is not the key criteria for this role and neither is length of service but significant experience of the development and delivery of postgraduate medical assessment is essential. Necessary PA experience was set at 5 years - 2 years more than we require for PA examiners – and many PAs suitable for the role will not only have 5 years clinical experience but also a wealth of previous career and assessment experience.
It is appropriate that this role be open to physician associates with the necessary experience but, having reviewed this, we have concluded that it should also be open to members as well as fellows of the RCP.
The Chief Examiner role is heavily focused on the development of assessment activity relating to the Physician Associate National Examination (PANE), Diploma in Geriatric Medicine and Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene to ensure that these assessments are developed and delivered in a consistent and robust manner. The main focus over the next 3 years will be PANE due to the closeness of PA regulation.
This is an important role for an individual who can competently represent the RCP and support staff in drawing together a disparate group of assessments to get the best from all of them, keep them viable and ensure they remain relevant. Whether the role goes to a PA, MRCP or FRCP, it will require political acumen, diplomacy and an understanding of the breadth and depth of postgraduate medical assessments and standards.
Read the job advert and role description here.