Author(s): Chevonne Brady, Mark Zarb
Background:
Up to 50% of foundation year 2 doctors do not proceed directly into speciality training. This change in direction of our profession places increasing demands on an already stretched NHS. In the UK, medical school teaching is understandably focused on the skills students will need as junior doctors. With the shift in career trajectories of these students it is important that medical education evolves with this.
Methods:
Final year medical students have been surveyed regarding their exposure to entrepreneurship and management, as well as their interest in their inclusion in the curriculum.
Results:
A 10-point survey was completed by final year medical students. No undergraduate students reported having had teaching on entrepreneurship during their degree. Only two students reported having teaching on management skills. 48% reported that they were considering a career outside of clinical medicine, fitting with the findings of the Foundation Programme Career Destination Report.
Conclusion:
Whilst entrepreneurship is now accepted as an important skill for doctors, this is clearly not filtering through to undergraduate medical education. With the help of student feedback, we are now setting-up a pilot programme in entrepreneurship and management for final year students. This will be part of a cross-discipline National teaching programme in entrepreneurship.