MEA announces a new annual medical student award scheme

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Battery Muncher

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Good idea.

Even if it's relatively small, hopefully the existence of such an award this helps to raise awareness of this disease amongst the medical student body.
 
SOC

SOC

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Yeah, but what are UK medical schools going to teach these medical students about ME? How do you avoid spending the very limited funding available for ME to support a medical student who just ends up being another doctor who believes ME is a psychosomatic illness? It's not like there's anyone at any of the UK medical schools who has treated ME patients biomedically (as opposed to psychiatrically) or even knows anything about it. You can't even require that they do their internship in a real ME/CFS specialist medical practice if they have to train in the UK.

At least NOVA Southeastern University has Drs Klimas and Rey who treat patients and train medical students. Stanford University has Dr Montoya. Supporting medical students who train under those doctors is likely to produce a doctor who will benefit the ME patient population. Who is going to train these UK medical students? What will they teach them about ME at a UK medical school? I'd like to think this would be of benefit to our UK patient cohort, but I don't see how it's going to work. Wouldn't it make more sense to fund someone to train under Klimas or Montoya and then require that they return to the UK to practice?
 
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Battery Muncher

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Messages
620
@SOC All very good points. I agree with all of this.

HoweverI think this award is much more specific/limited than any of the scenarios you mention. It's very small - 2 x £250 ($385) - covering travel and expenses to the UK Research Collaborative Conference for two students.

There are many different opinions on the URCC. I'm not without my criticisms. But, on the whole, I think it will expose the two selected students to a much higher level of science than is typical in UK medical schools. Crucially, this years conference will feature the likes of Dr Montoya (as a keynote speaker) and Dr Øystein Fluge (Rituximab):

http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...ewcastle-13th-14th-october.36515/#post-610332

Professor George Davey Smith will also be at the event. Apparently, he delivered a powerful takedown of the biopsychosocial model at a conference that Wessley attended:

http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...f-caution-george-davey-smith-2005-2006.38371/

So I'm still in favour of this small but useful intervention by the MEA. I still believe it will help to raise awareness in a useful manner.
 
SOC

SOC

Senior Member
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7,849
Battery Muncher said:
HoweverI think this award is much more specific/limited than any of the scenarios you mention. It's very small - 2 x £250 ($385) - covering travel and expenses to the UK Research Collaborative Conference for two students.
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:bang-head::bang-head::bang-head: Obviously I have limited cognitive function at the end of a long day. I read, but apparently I do not fully comprehend under these circumstances. :oops:

Battery Muncher said:
But, on the whole, I think it will expose the two selected students to a much higher level of science than is typical in UK medical schools. Crucially, this years conference will feature the likes of Dr Montoya (as a keynote speaker) and Dr Øystein Fluge (Rituximab):
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This sounds like an excellent plan indeed! Exposure to real ME research and researchers could make all the difference in how these students view ME.
Battery Muncher said:
So I'm still in favour of this small but useful intervention by the MEA. I still believe it will help to raise awareness in a useful manner.
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I am also in favor of this valuable intervention. We need all the awareness-raising we can get, especially among UK medical students. :thumbsup:
 
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Battery Muncher

Senior Member
Messages
620
SOC said:
:bang-head::bang-head::bang-head: Obviously I have limited cognitive function at the end of a long day. I read, but apparently I do not fully comprehend under these circumstances. :oops:
Click to expand...

No problem! It happens to us all. I'm pleased you feel more optimistic about this award.
 
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charles shepherd

Senior Member
Messages
2,239
SOC said:
Yeah, but what are UK medical schools going to teach these medical students about ME? How do you avoid spending the very limited funding available for ME to support a medical student who just ends up being another doctor who believes ME is a psychosomatic illness? It's not like there's anyone at any of the UK medical schools who has treated ME patients biomedically (as opposed to psychiatrically) or even knows anything about it. You can't even require that they do their internship in a real ME/CFS specialist medical practice if they have to train in the UK.

At least NOVA Southeastern University has Drs Klimas and Rey who treat patients and train medical students. Stanford University has Dr Montoya. Supporting medical students who train under those doctors is likely to produce a doctor who will benefit the ME patient population. Who is going to train these UK medical students? What will they teach them about ME at a UK medical school? I'd like to think this would be of benefit to our UK patient cohort, but I don't see how it's going to work. Wouldn't it make more sense to fund someone to train under Klimas or Montoya and then require that they return to the UK to practice?
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I don't think you have understood the purpose of the MEA award, or the situation regarding medical education here in the UK

Firstly, the MEA award is for one specific purpose - it will enable a UK medical student who is interested in taking this subject seriously to attend the main UK research conference in October where he/she will be able to listen and take part in sessions on neuropathology, clinical trials etc.

If you look at the programme, you will see that we have some first class speakers already booked (Montoya from America, Fluge from Norway), with more to come, and the focus is very much on biomedical research

Secondly, while there is a strong input from doctors who follow the biopsychosocal model of causation and treatment here in the UK, there are others who do not

We are holding the Research Collaborative conference in Newcastle this year where Professor Julia Newton and her team are actively involved in first class BIOMEDICAL research into autonomic dysfunction, POTS, muscle pathology, overlap with other conditions that cause debilitating fatigue etc in ME/CFS

This is also reflected in the excellent clinical service they offer and the education of medical students at the University Newcastle

In fact, last year I was asked to assist a US medical student who wanted to come over the the UK and spend some time with this group in Newcastle

And I'm pleased to say that we have already had one excellent application to attend!
 
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