Can I do an MSc in respiratory medicine while doing a senior house officer job?
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7472.s166-b (Published 23 October 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:s166
- Andrew Whitehouse, consultant physician and associate postgraduate dean
Abstract
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This could be an excellent degree for a trainee committed to the specialty. My concerns would be twofold. Firstly, the timing. A senior house officer in medicine should be training in the generality of medicine, and especially developing competence in managing the acute take and its wide range of problems. The essential assessment to be passed at this stage is the exam for membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Until these are both mastered a specialty degree would be premature. The second reservation I would have is that an MSc may focus particularly on developing research expertise rather than skills and knowledge that are more relevant in the clinical front line. For a trainee committed to developing and maintaining research as a special interest, an MSc or MD should be considered. However, this would be more appropriately undertaken in a higher specialty training programme, at which point funding for the degree may also be available.