A Message from Dr. John Donohoe, President RCPI Reforming for Excellence

I am writing to you regarding the College’s ongoing reform of both its postgraduate medical education and training programmes and the services and benefits we provide to Fellows, Members and Trainees. I am sure that you appreciate the critical need for the College to adopt a highly proactive stance in the currently very challenging environment for the profession. It is also essential that our Members and Fellows feel that the College is representing them effectively and responsibly; and that they value their participation in the College. Three key areas of activity are central to these aims. First we must protect

and maintain the standards of postgraduate medical education and training from SHO through to Consultant level. This includes safeguarding the role of the profession in education and training. Second, we must engage in a positive way within the public arena to ensure that the relationship of trust between the public and the profession is restored and strengthened. Third, we must play a proactive role in the development and influencing of Government policy on health and professional matters.

The College is active, on your behalf, in all of these areas, and intends to increase its involvement further over coming months and years. In order to do so, we need to draw upon the expertise and experience of all our Members and Fellows.

In support of our aims the College is now fully engaged in a reform process which we have called ‘Reforming for Excellence’. This process has impacted on every aspect of the College and includes:

• Reformed GPT curriculum and logbook
• Introduction of Regional Directors of GPT
• Review of Membership examinations
• Launch of RCPI Online Medical Education Centre
• Development of Masterclass series to support CME requirements
• Development of a range of education programmes in leadership, professional development, research and ethics
• Webcasting of education and training events
• Reform of HMT curriculum and assessment methods
• Public meeting series aimed at improving the profile of the College through public interaction
• Enhanced services and benefits to Members, Fellows and Trainees
• Implementation of a range of new business systems within the College
• Expansion of medical leadership within the College

If you have any question about ‘Reforming for Excellence’ please call the Reforming for Excellence help desk on 01-8639721 or email reform@rcpi.ie

Our reform programme is founded on the principle of medical leadership, both within the College and in the wider environment of the health service. In this context, I am very happy that we have seen a significant expansion in the number of Fellows engaging in a variety of roles across all College activities. In particular, I am delighted to note the appointment of Dr Steven Patchett, Dean of Examinations; Dr Mary Horgan, Associate Dean of General Professional Training; Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, Vice President of Education and Professional Development and Professor Diarmuid O’Donoghue, RCPI nominee to the Medical Council.

I am confident that the College, with your help, will be effective in addressing the many challenges and opportunities we face in the professional, government and public arenas over the coming years; that this work will benefit all of us as doctors, and ultimately the standard of patient care we provide.

Yours sincerely

Dr John Donohoe
President, RCPI

Access to a Medical Council accredited training programme Registration with GPT training programme Access to accredited training posts GPT Induction programme Annual assessment Reformed curriculum Logbook Award of GPT Certificate, required for entry to HMT programme Access to the RCPI Online Medical Education Centre Access to UpToDate, the electronic clinical resource tool for physicians College email address - yourname@physicians.ie Priority access to the MRCPI examination for all GPT registered trainees Four day Professional Development Programme Ethics Course Safe Prescribing Course RCPI Masterclass Series on Treating the Acutely Ill Patient – 7 per annum

Trainees who have been conferred with Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) will also receive the Benefits and Services Pack for Collegiate Members

The RCPI Online Medical Education Centre will provide a forum for information sharing among trainees and trainers through case study competitions, career advice workshops and mentoring. It will also provide trainees with targeted on-line educational and training resources in the form of live and recorded webcasts, scientific meetings, tutorials and recommended reading, designed to promote self-directed learning, support the curriculum and challenge trainees to actively seek and expand their knowledge base.

Provision of Medical Council accredited training programme Registration with HMT training programme Access to accredited SpR training posts Specialty specific Study Days Annual assessments HMT curriculum Logbook Award of internationally recognised Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training, which entitles entry onto Register of Medical Specialist in Medical Council Access to the RCPI Online Medical Education Centre Access to UpToDate, the electronic clinical resource tool for physicians College email address - yourname@physicians.ie Leadership programme (trainees entering programme from July 2008 only) Ethics Programme RCPI Masterclass - Seven per annum

Trainees who have been conferred with Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) will also receive the Benefits and Services Package for Collegiate Members

The RCPI Online Medical Education Centre will provide a forum for information sharing among trainees and trainers through case study competitions, career advice workshop tutorials and mentoring. It will also provide trainees with targeted on-line educational and training resources in the form of live and recorded webcasts, scientific meetings, tutorials and recommended reading, designed to promote self-directed learning, support the curriculum and challenge the trainees to actively seek and expand their knowledge base.

Collegiate Membership entitles doctors to a range of services and benefits including:

Recording and monitoring of CME Eligible to participate in the Collegiate Members Committee Eligible to receive the College newsletter "RCPI Today" Access to The RCPI Online Medical Education Centre and Resource Centre Eligible to enter academic competitions Eligible to participate in Case Study Review Panel 20% discount on room hire of College’s conference and events centre, No. 6 Kildare Street. (20% discount on first booking; 10% discount on all bookings thereafter) 10% discount on College training courses 50% discount on Fellowship admission fees Use of meeting rooms at College’s administrative centre, Frederick House Free access to the Dun's Library for historical and genealogy research Listed in the College Directory of Collegiate Members Eligible to attend College formal events (Conferring and Admission Ceremonies, etc.)

From December 2008, Collegiate Members will also be provided with:

• Access to the RCPI Online Medical Education Centre
• Access to the RCPI Online Resource Centre
• The provision of a College email address - yourname@physicians.ie

The RCPI Online Medical Education Centre and Resource Centre will provide Collegiate Members with targeted on-line educational and training resources in the form of live and recorded webcasts, scientific meetings, tutorials and recommended reading, designed to promote self-directed learning.

Collegiate Members will also have access to the RCPI Online Medical Education Centre a private resource allowing online notification of Collegiate Members Committee meetings, distribution of minutes, meeting material and a tailored stream of related news and events (available in late 2008).

The College is committed to the further development and enhancement of these services.

Fellowship entitles doctors to a range of services and benefits including.

• Use of post nominal FRCPI - Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
• Recording and monitoring of CME
• Eligible for election to Council, College Standing Committees and external Committees and to participate in healthcare policy and advocacy development
• Eligible to nominate colleagues to Fellowship
• Eligible for nomination to key roles within the College, such as Trainer, Examiner, National Specialty Director, Regional Director of GPT
• Eligible to receive the College newsletter "RCPI Today"
• 25% discount on room hire of College’s conference and events centre, No. 6 Kildare Street. (25% discount on first booking; 15% discount on all bookings thereafter)
• Access to the Fellows Meeting room at the College’s conference and events centre, No. 6 Kildare Street, at no charge for room hire
• 20% discount on non-mandatory College training courses
• Use of meeting rooms at College’s administrative centre, Frederick House
• Listed in the College Directory of Fellows
• Eligible to attend College formal events. (Conferring and Admission Ceremonies, etc.)
• RCPI diary.
• Free access to the Dun's Library for historical and genealogy research

From October 2008, Fellows will also be provided with:

• Access to the RCPI Online Medical Education Centre
• Access to the RCPI Online Resource Centre
• The provision of a College email address - yourname@physicians.ie

The RCPI Online Medical Education Centre and Resource Centre will provide Fellows with targeted on-line educational and training resources in the form of live and recorded webcasts, scientific meetings, tutorials and recommended reading. Fellows will also have access to a private resource centre of the website allowing online notification of College and Committee meetings, distribution of minutes, meeting material and a tailored stream of related news and events (available in late 2008).

The College is committed to the further development and enhancement of these services.

If you have any question about ‘Reforming for Excellence’ please call the Reforming for Excellence help desk on 01-8639721 or email reform@rcpi.ie