Perceptions of preparation for further training: how our medical schools prepare graduates and the perceived factors influencing access to training.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the specific factors that graduates perceive to influence their success in obtaining primary training in a chosen field. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The New South Wales Medical Registration Board provided data on doctors who were registered to practise between 1995 and 2006. A brief, paper-based survey was sent to a random selection of 2000 doctors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Doctors' self-reported perceptions on the impact of demographic details, specialty training applied for, university training and other factors on opportunities for further training after medical school. RESULTS: Of the 375/1915 doctors (19.6%) who responded, most had completed a 6-year undergraduate degree from the University of Sydney, University of NSW or University of Newcastle, and most were at registrar level. Of 242/321 doctors (76%) who had applied for a training position, 240 (99%) had been accepted. The support of a mentor was considered the most positive influence on meeting long-term career goals (255/318 [80%]). Learning how to communicate with patients was valued as the most helpful aspect of medical school (270/318 [85%]). CONCLUSION: The personal attributes of graduates were considered more influential in achieving career goals and accessing further training than perceived features of a medical program. This suggests that more emphasis and research should be devoted to selecting the most appropriate candidates, rather than restructuring medical curricula to meet a presumed need for more content knowledge before graduation.

Charting a global future for education in physiology.

The 2005 Claude Bernard Distinguished Lecture was presented at the XXXV International Congress of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) in San Diego, CA, by Ann J. Sefton. Dr. Sefton is an Emeritus Professor of Physiology of the University of Sydney and co-Chair of the IUPS Education Committee. A full profile of Dr. Sefton is included in this issue's The Physiology Teacher.

Research within a medical degree: the combined MB BS-PhD program at the University of Sydney.

Along with its new graduate-entry medical program, the University of Sydney has introduced the Combined Degree (Research) Program which allows students to graduate with an MB BS and PhD. The program includes 2-3 years of full-time research between Years 2 and 3 of the 4-year MB BS program. The program aims to produce clinician-scientists committed to continuing research that reflects their experience of clinical practice. Eight women and 23 men have enrolled since the program began in 1998, with the first cohort graduating in 2003. The students have been active in helping to develop the program and establishing a society and other student support networks.