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EDITORIALS: Cath McDermott, Kieran Walsh, and Luisa Dillner Launching BMJ Masterclasses BMJ 2005; 331: 1420 [Full text]

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Make it universal

Jeevan P Marasinghe   (16 December 2005)

BMJ Masterclasses - new model or old model?

David Price, Stephen Holmes, Mike Thomas   (21 December 2005)

Respiratory Masterclass

Iain R Small   (22 December 2005)

Make it universal 16 December 2005
Jeevan P Marasinghe, Medical officer 3-Special care baby unit ,De soyza hospital for women,Colombo,Sri Lanka. Send response to journal: Re: Make it universal	It is a good and brave turning point by the BMJ publishing group to initiate the new learning programe.It will give the opportunity of studying current teaching methods and trends in their own working environment. Depending on the results of the pilot study, it is high time to make this event universal since most of the Asian countries do not get adequate exposure to these things. Moreover it is very difficult to get most of the books in ABC series in countries like Sri Lanka. At the same time, try to include hot topics like essential computer literacy for clinicians, preparation for exams, etc. jeevanmarasinghe@yahoo.com Competing interests: None declared
BMJ Masterclasses - new model or old model? 21 December 2005
David Price, Professor of Primary Care Respiratory Medicine University of Aberdeen, Stephen Holmes, Mike Thomas Send response to journal: Re: BMJ Masterclasses - new model or old model?	I read with great interest about the masterclasses being run by the BMJ which will "light our fire". I also read with interest about the need in another editorial in the same edition for primary care to help solve the problem of health care in Russia. Much to my surprise then when I looked up the masterclasses website was to find an excellent programme which was apparently designed with primary care as well as secondary care in mind as audience but without a single primary care speaker! If this is the way forward with exciting medical education it looks more like we have taken two steps backwards. We have great primary care organisations including the Royal College of General Practitioners and the General Practice Airways Group who could have asssisted in developing a genuinely good programme but the old formula has been opted for again. Competing interests: We are members of the General Practice Airways Group and Royal College of GPs
Respiratory Masterclass 22 December 2005
Iain R Small, General Practitioner Peterhead Health Centre AB42 2XA Send response to journal: Re: Respiratory Masterclass	Firstly, may I welcome this initiative. For too long, patients with chronic respiratory disease have been the 'Cinderellas' of British medical care, and any project which improves the knowledge and skills of those in Primary Care with regard to the range of common, and less recognisable respiratory conditions is to be applauded. However, I must agree with Price, Holmes and Thomas in their response. From the field of Primary Care, there are many (not least the above mentioned) who are recognised for their expertise not only in respiratory disease but in medical research and education, whose contribution to this development would be valuable, and I would encourage the organisers to consider working with primary care organisations, such as RCGP, GPIAG, National Respiratory Training Centre and Respiratory Education Training Centre. Competing interests: Education Lead General Practice Airways Group