Pioneer magazine

Pioneer

Shining exampleGreg Dyke sees HYMS students in action

ISSue 5 | SPRING 2011

the magazine of the Hull York Medical School

Pioneerissue 5 final_Pioneer 08/04/2011 14:01 Page 1

notes from the Dean

Ready to face challenges aheadI recently completedmy first six months atHYMS and would liketo thank everyone formaking me sowelcome.

There are lots ofchallenges facingmedical schools at

the moment, including uncertainty overUniversity and NHS funding foreducation, and over future funding forhealth research, with reductions in theresearch council budgets and charitiesearning less on their investments. Theproposed NHS reforms are quite radical,signalling the end of SHAs and PCTs, andthe development of new GPcommissioning consortia and neweducation and training networks.

However, HYMS has huge advantagesin facing these challenges. We have avery strong partnership with the NHSthrough our local teaching networks inprimary and secondary care. We have agood track record with the MRC, whichhas not faced the same cuts as the otherresearch councils, and a good track recordwith the Wellcome Trust and othercharitable funders. We also winconsiderable funding from the NationalInstitute for Health Research, which hasnot had its budget reduced significantlyso far. The Budget has signalled positivedevelopments in health research,

including simpler regulation and moreconsistent research governancenationally, more information for patientswanting to participate in clinical trials,and facilitation of on-line health recordsresearch.

We have been reviewing our strategicplan, looking ahead over the next tenyears. Given the current concerns overfunding, we are focussing our researchefforts in our areas of strength andexisting critical mass. We are alsothinking about possible new teachingprogrammes in selected areas. We wantto develop further the internationalprofile of HYMS, through links with othermedical schools, and developing contactswith academic colleagues all around theworld.

Although challenging, my job is greatfun. In this edition you will see that Ihave been privileged to attend theopening of the new HYMS Centre forCardiovascular and Metabolic Research,the HYMS students’ prize-giving, the firsttwo meetings of the Ethics Society run byand for HYMS students, and our first PhDstudent’s graduation. I feel very fortunateto be the Dean of HYMS, and I lookforward to working together with you totackle the challenges we face, and tocontinue our successes.

Tony Kendrick

Cover: Greg Dyke sees HYMSstudents in action during a dayspent at HYMS.

Photo by Kippa Matthews

Design and text © 2011 Hull YorkMedical School. Images © 2011Hull York Medical School andindividual contributors. Foreditorial or queries, [email protected] [email protected].

Hull York Medical School

University of Hull, HU6 7RX

University of York, YO10 5DD

0870 1245500

www.hyms.ac.uk

[email protected]

Congratulations toMarjan van der Woude,HYMS Senior Lecturer inMedical Microbiology,who has been appointedas core member of theBBSRC ResearchCommittee B.

HYMS Director of ClinicalStudies Dr SunilBhandari received a£10,000 cheque frompatient Mrs Stevens atScunthorpe Renal Unit,for research into kidneydisease.

Final year HYMS studentLouise Mellish has beenawarded a Distinction inher intercalated degree inMRes Translational CancerMedicine at King’s College,London.


Spring 2011

In this issue

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4 Replicating realityHYMS student Ben Boxalldemonstrates the latest clinicalsimulation resources

7 Self-harm risk screeningProf Simon Gilbody and colleaguesexamine the potential of routine riskassessment and screening for self-harm and suicide amongst offenders

7 £3m boost for cancer projectScientists at HYMS and theUniversity of York have been awardedover £3 million to continue agroundbreaking research projectwhich is helping cancer patients inYorkshire and across the UK

8 New research centreThe Centre for Cardiovascular andMetabolic Research was launched atthe Daisy Building, Castle HillHospital

10 New ethics societySir Graeme Catto, former presidentand chair of the General MedicalCouncil, spoke at the launch of a newHYMS student society

11 Student prizesPrizewinning HYMS students werepresented with their awards at alunch at the University of Hull

12 New strategyHYMS Widening Participation Teamhas just published its strategy for thenext three years

13 First respondersYorkshire Ambulance Service NHSTrust has teamed up with HYMSstudents to train 33 students tobecome community first respondersand help patients in the vital minutesbefore an ambulance arrives

14 enhanced teachingHYMS welcomed its second cohortonto the Post Graduate Certificate inMedical Education (PGCME)

15 Postgraduate firstThe first HYMS postgraduateresearch student to graduate isAhmed Aburima

14 Alumni news

The back pages of Pioneer are dedicatedto our alumni, providing updates andnews from HYMS and both parentuniversities

Pioneer


cover story

Replicatingreality


Greg Dyke, former Director-General of the BBC and theuniversity of York’s

Chancellor, spent a day with HYMSstaff and students in York.

He began his visit at the Learningand Resource Centre at York Hospital(LaRC). Accompanied by HYMSDirector of Clinical Study Dr JonnyThow, he watched students practisingcannulation and observed a Year 2teaching session with Dr BarbaraStewart, paediatric consultant, and abedside teaching session with Dr JohnDavies, clinical lecturer in surgery.

He also observed studentspractising their clinical skills on aLaerdal SimMan 3G with realisticanatomy, accurate clinical functionalityand PC-driven software.

Since October 2008, YorkHospital’s HYMS Clinical SkillsFacilitators and Clinical DevelopmentTeam have worked to incorporateclinical simulation using a high qualitypatient simulator into medical studentand Trust staff training.

They received financial supportfrom the Strategic Health Authority(SHA) in 2009 and invested in theSimMan 3G. The hospital also investedin a Scotia Medical Observation andTraining System.

This allows live or recorded imagesof a scenario as it unfolds to betransmitted to a classroom in the LaRCto be used to debrief students.

Some of the SHA funds were alsoused to convert a locker room in LaRCinto a simulated clinical area in whichscenarios were run. They also built acontrol room next door connected witha one-way observation window.

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LEFT: HYMS Clinical Skills Facilitator

Esther Taylor observes HYMS

students working with SimMan 3G


cover story

Greg was interested to see thatclinical simulation is widelyrecognised as an important way oftraining medical staff to ensure safercare for patients (as recommended inChief Medical Officer’s 2008 Report‘Safer Medical Practice: Machines,Manikins and Polo Mints’).

High risk industries such asaviation use simulation to reduce riskfrom unlikely and rare events,allowing people to prepare for riskyscenarios in a safe environment. Itenables conditions that closelyresemble reality to be recreated,whilst removing danger.

HYMS students learn clinical skillswith the support of CSFs Esther Taylor

and Jean Gears who teach skills in asimulated environment with trainersand simulated patients. For examplestudents will learn to take blood froma plastic arm before attempting totake it from a real one.

“Clinical Simulation can be usedto teach so much more though,” saidEsther. “It can be used for technicaland non-technical skills such as teamwork, communication, situationalawareness and so forth. With theequipment we now have, we can runrealistic, challenging scenarios withclinical colleagues specifically formedical students such as managingacutely ill medical patients.”

Greg returned to the HYMS officeat the University of York where he hada group session with senior staffbefore a PBL briefing from Director ofPBL Janine Henderson.

After lunch he observed a PBLSession with Dr Andrew Davidson andstudents before having tea with staffat the end of the day.

The Dean of HYMS, ProfessorTony Kendrick, said: "It was a goodopportunity to update Greg on theexcellent progress of HYMS. He wasparticularly interested to meet staffand students and hear what they hadto say about medical teaching andresearch.”

Lord Winston helps celebrate the message of science

Professor Colin Garner, a HYMS honorary professor in pharmacology, has successfully bid for an

EU grant to investigate how infants, children and adolescents metabolise well known drugs such

as paracetamol, spironolactone and midazolam using new techniques and approaches.

The PAMPERS consortium, as the programme is known, consists of paediatricians, laboratory

scientists and ethicists and research groups drawn from the UK, The Netherlands, Belgium,

Poland and Estonia.

“The paediatric population is an under-served group in drug development,” said Professor

Garner. “Most paediatric drugs are given ‘off-label’ ie the drugs have not been registered for

paediatric use. This probably accounts for the high number of hospitalizations in this group due

to adverse drug events which have been estimated to be as high as 40% of all hospital

admissions.” The funding comes via PRIOMEDCHILD (www.priomedchild.eu) and is worth over

€1 million spread over three years.

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A Science Engagement Celebration event was held tocelebrate the different public engagement activitiesdeveloped across the University of York.

The event was an opportunity for outreachvolunteers to interact and for members of the public tosee the breadth of outreach material available.

Professor Lord Robert Winston delivered a sell-outlecture on the purpose of public engagement.

The HYMS Centre for Immunology and Infection(CII) outreach stand included microscopes, colouringactivities, posters, a video about the CII and theinteractive game good bugs: bad bugs. These activitieswere popular with members of the public as well asuniversity colleagues and generated a lot of interest inCII research and its activities.

The Dean of HYMS, Professor Tony Kendrick, talks to

Professor Lord Robert Winston about science

engagementPhoto: Dominic Ennis


research news

In brief

Fourth year HYMS studentsNikki Scott, Emma Lewis andMatteo De Martino are to haveposters published in theInternational Journal ofObstetric Anaesthesia anddisplayed at the ObstetricAnaesthesia AssociationConference in Edinburgh.Nikkigot involved in carrying out aresearch survey during ananaesthetics SSC with DrRafique in Hull. One of theconsultant anaesthetists, DrPurva, asked Nikki to look intothe success rates of epidurals ona labour ward and how theyvaried with different positionsand grade of doctor performingthem.After a few months, Nikkiasked Emma, Matteo andanother HYMS student JenniferBoyle to help to collect the data.Nikki and Emma presented theirfindings at the anaestheticsaudit and Dr Purva helped themto design an abstract to submitfor a poster to display at theEdinburgh conference.

Congratulations to Year 4student Hannah Clark, who wonthis year’s HYMS Christmas cardcompetition with her originalpainting ‘Fat Rascal Robin’.

Congratulations to Dean ofHYMS Professor Tony Kendrick,who won first prize in theprimary health care category ofthe BMA Medical Book Awards2010. Professor Kendrick’s book‘Primary Care Mental Health’, co-authored by Linda Gask, HelenLester and Robert Peveler,provides a conceptualbackground and practical advicefor the clinician. It wasconsidered “a source of informedpractical advice on a wide varietyof mental health issuesencountered in primary care”.The book is published byRCPsych Publications.

Self-harm risk screeningProf Simon Gilbody(pictured) and DrAmanda Perry of theHYMS-Health SciencesMental Health ResearchGroup are successful co-applicants on a grantbeing led by AlanTennant at LeedsUniversity to examinethe potential of routinerisk assessment andscreening for self-harmand suicide amongstoffenders.

Offenderpopulations (particularlythose recently sentencedor remanded)demonstrate high ratesof self-harm and suicide.They represent a highrisk group where apotential exists toaddress this public

health concern byscreening andidentification of thosewho might show signsthat are predictive ofsuicide.

Significant barriersexist to the wholesaleuse of screening and riskidentification in thispopulation.

This programme ofresearch has beencommissioned by theNIHR HealthTechnology Assessmentprogramme. The groupwill review the availabletools and evaluate theirperformance inpredicting prisoner self-harm or suicide.

The study will beundertaken by membersof the Prison andOffender Research inSocial Care and Healthnetwork (PORSCH,) apractice-researchnetwork covering NorthEast England, Yorkshireand Humberside, linkedto the national PrisonHealth ResearchNetwork (PHRN).

Depression therapy

Depression can be treatedeffectively withpsychotherapy by mentalhealth nurses with minimaltraining, according to newpreliminary researchfindings.

The study, led byDurham University’sMental Health ResearchCentre, in collaborationwith the University of Yorkand HYMS, shows thatpatients with severedepression can be treatedsuccessfully withbehavioural activation – apsychotherapy fordepression – by non-specialist mental healthstaff which couldpotentially lead toconsiderable cost-savingsfor the NHS.

Scientists at HYMS and the University of Yorkhave been awarded over £3 million to continuea groundbreaking research project which ishelping cancer patients in Yorkshire andacross the UK.

The charity Leukaemia & LymphomaResearch is investing in further developmentof the Yorkshire & Humberside HaematologyResearch Network, which has already collecteddata from over 10,000 blood cancer patients inthe Yorkshire area. The network works inpartnership with 14 hospitals across Yorkshireand Humberside to gather information abouteach patient’s diagnosis, treatment course andoutcome.

The team, led by Professor Eve Roman ofHYMS and the Department of Health Sciences,now has some of the most detailed andaccurate information in the world frompatients with blood cancers such as leukaemia,lymphoma and myeloma. The new five-yearinvestment will help the scientists continuetheir analysis of this data, to provide newinsights into what causes blood cancers, andwhich treatments are the most effective.

£3m boost for cancer project


research

New research centre launchedThe HYMS Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research (CCMR) waslaunched at the Daisy Building, Castle Hill Hopsital.

The launch was accompanied by akeynote lecture by Professor MauroPerretti, Professor ofImmunopharmacology, WilliamHarvey Research Institute, London.

His lecture was entitled“Harnessing the Resolution ofInflammation for Anti-inflammatoryDrug Discovery”.

The Centre lead, Professor KhalidNaseem, welcomed some 50 guests tothe launch and the Dean of HYMS,Professor Tony Kendrick, spoke aboutthe HYMS CCMR.

During his opening addressProfessor Kendrick explained:“Cardiovascular diseases are a leadingcause of mortality both nationally andhere in our local community. Thecreation of the CCMR will allowHYMS to consolidate and focus ourstrong research expertise in this areaof biomedicine.”

He said the CCMR had fiveresearch themes:

Clinical and Molecular cardiology

Diabetes and Metabolism

Thrombosis/Haemostasis

Vascular biology

Respiratory medicine

It would look into the majorhealth problems of heart failure,diabetes, atherosclerosis, thromboticand haemostatic disorders via a range

of approaches. He said the potentialbenefits of the CCMR includedcreating a unique competitive edge toallow translational research – “frombench to bedside”.

The CCMR would attract nationaland international recognition in thearea, increase its ability to attract bothhigh calibre scientists and sustainableresearch funding which was nowmoving towards more cognatemultidisciplinary centres.

The CCMR replaces the formerCentres for Biomedical Research andClinical Sciences. It is one of fiveHYMS research centres. The otherfour Centres are:

Anatomical and Human Sciences

Health and Population Sciences

Immunology and Infection

Neuroscience

Next year staff from the CCMRwill move from several differentlocations to the new Allam Buildingon the campus of the University ofHull, which will bring all the staff intoone centre.

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Professors Tony Kendrick, Mauro Perretti and Khalid Naseem

New research shows that the areas of the brainresponsible for vision do not reorganise themselves whenthe eye is damaged by disease.

This surprising finding, which opposes the prevailingworld opinion in this area, is of great importance fordeveloping treatments to overcome blindness.

Researchers funded by the Medical Research Councilfrom HYMS, the University of York, University CollegeLondon, Moorfields Eye Hospital and the University ofGroningen publish their findings in the journal NatureNeuroscience. They report on an investigation of brainsignals in patients with macular degeneration.

Blindness treatments to benefit from new in-‘sight’


research

A group of researchers from the University of Hull and the Hull York MedicalSchool have found that dark chocolate has significant health benefits forpeople with Type 2 diabetes.

According to the study published in Diabetic Medicine, HDL (high densitylipoprotein) or ‘good’ cholesterol is improved and overall cholesterol balance isenhanced when patients consume 45g of dark chocolate each day.

This is the first study to report on the effects of giving chocolate to individualswith Type 2 diabetes over a period of 16 weeks. The patients were givenchocolate either with or without a high cocoa content. The dark chocolatecontained 85% cocoa solids compared to the placebo which contained nococoa solids but was dyed the same colour as the dark chocolate.

Individual 15g foil-wrapped bars were provided and the volunteers were askedto consume one bar three times a day. The patients were advised not toconsume any other chocolate for the duration of the study and they wereinstructed to make no changes to their diet and lifestyle.

Dietary recall suggested that dark chocolate tended to replace other snackfoods and there was therefore a reduction of food-based guilt.

Steve Atkin, Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology, who led the study says:“People with Type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to develop cardiovasculardisease and since one of the main contributory factors to heart disease is a low

level of HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol, the findings thatdark chocolate can improve this, means the

results of this study are hugely significant.”

He continues: “Chocolate with a highcocoa content should be included in the dietof individuals with Type 2 diabetes as part of

a sensible, balanced approach to diet andlifestyle. This study demonstrates that it can

offer a potential reduction incardiovascular risk withoutdetrimental risks on weight,

insulin resistance or glycaemiccontrol.”

Researchers from HYMS and theUniversity of Hull have also found

dark chocolate has a significanteffect on reducing the symptomsof Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(CFS). The research, published

in Nutrition Journal, found thatpolyphenol rich chocolate easesthe condition, with subjectsnoting significant improvementsto their well-being.

Dark chocolate is good for diabetics, study finds

HYMS researchers have identifiedneprilysin as the key enzyme in thedevelopment of obesity.

In a recently published work (PLoSOne: New function for an old enzyme:NEP deficient mice develop late-onsethuman obesity) Prof Thomas Waltherand his team of researchers at theCentre of Biomedical Research, HYMS,the University of Hull, in collaborationwith Dr Wolf Siems from the FMP inBerlin-Buch, Germany, demonstratedthat the enzyme neprilysin (also calledNeutral Endopeptidase or NEP) plays asignificant role in the regulation offood intake and fat deposition.

Obesity is a serious health disordertriggered by a large number of factors.In addition to high calorie intake,genetic components play a central role.Obese people are at high risk ofsuffering diseases such ashypertension, diabetes mellitus,myocardial infarction, or stroke.

Despite intensive research efforts,there is as yet no reliable long-termmedication. To be able to promote thedevelopment of therapeutic options fora long-term treatment of obesepatients, better insight in theunderlying genetic and biochemicalmechanisms, which contribute to thedevelopment of obesity, is needed.

Prof Walther and his team’sfindings concluded that genetic andpharmacological inactivation of theNEP leads to an increase in body fat.The obesity model, described by ProfWalther, is a new starting point forinvestigating the molecularmechanisms which promote thedevelopment and progression ofobesity. Furthermore, it is also an idealstarting point for the development ofnew diagnostic and therapeuticapproaches for obesity. The aim of hisfuture research is to identify methodsto pharmacologically increase the NEPactivity in order to attain a long-termreduction of body weight.

Breakthroughin obesityresearch


student life

Hundreds of students turned out tohear euthanasia campaigners debatethe pros and cons of physician-assisteddying at a meeting of the new HYMSEthics Society.

Debbie Purdy, who recently won acase at the House of Lords to clarifythe rules on prosecuting those whoassist in euthanasia, spoke in favour ofallowing doctors to help some patientsto die. The opposing argument wasput by Geoff Morris of campaign groupCare Not Killing.

Members of the new Ethics Societyprovided refreshments for some 130students in York and their

counterparts at the University ofHull, who joined the debate viavideolink.

The evening was hosted byProfessor Alan Maynard, whofacilitated an audience-led discussionto close the debate.

The HYMS Ethics Society waslaunched at a meeting with guestspeaker Sir Graeme Catto, formerpresident and chair of the GeneralMedical Council. President of theEthics Society Aysha Bibi said shewas delighted Sir Graeme agreed toattend and formally launch thesociety.

FAMILeY awards

Once again HYMS studentsshowed off their communicationskills in the annual competitionfor the FAMILeY award at theMiddleton Hall, University ofHull.Guests were treated to aseries of presentations varyingfrom Sexual Assault ReferralCentres to food additives and theeffects on the developing foetus.

The eventual winner, SianReece, received a certificate and acheque for £1,000 for herpresentation on ‘Female UrinaryIncontinence’. The other finalistsincluded:

Andrea Baxter - ‘SexualAssault Referral Centres’

Maria Crouch - ‘Vaginal birthafter Caesarean section’

Nadia McAllister - ‘Foodadditives and the effects onthe developing foetus’.

There was also a guestpresentation from EmmaMironska and Greg Chambers on‘Informed choice prior to breastcancer surgery’.The event wasorganised by the charity FAMILeY(Female And Maternity IssuesLocally in East Yorkshire).

Above left: Debbie Purdy, Aysha Bibi, Alan Maynard and Geoff Morris at the Ethics Society meeting. Right: HYMS bursaries award winners

Students launch newethics society

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Some 90 school pupils visited HYMSas part of the University of YorkScience Trail 2011.

The sessions were facilitated byfirst-year medical students –Catherine OMahony; George Leidig;Elizabeth Andargachew; AndrewThompson; Alexander Brightmoreand Harriet Crosby.

“I was really impressed by theway in which our students enthusedthe pupils,” said WideningParticipation Assistant Ellie Bird.

Pupils enjoy picking up clinical skills on science trail

HYMS Teaching Fellow in Medical Education Andy

Kardasz and student Catherine O’Mahony with

pupils from Highfields School Beth Douglass and

Gina Spencer. Picture: Dominic Ennis


student life

Prizes handed out toHYMS studentsPrizewinning studentswere presented withtheir awards at a lunchat the university ofHull.

Third year student Ben Boxall wasgiven the HYMS Phase 1 Prize inPharmacology by Associate Dean forResearch Ian Morris for passing hissecond year with the highestaccumulated score from threecomponents.

Associate Dean for Students, ProfJonathan Bennett, awarded the BobMorton prize for the student with themost Excellent grades in humanitiesStudent Selected Componentsthroughout both Phases I and II, toClaire Taylor.

The Dorothy Robson Prize forPalliative Medicine was handed overby Dr Peter Smith, a retired ICIexecutive who named the prize inmemory of his late wife. It is given to

the student from Years 4 or 5 whoproduces the best essay on a particularaspect of palliative care and this year itwent to fifth-year student MichaelHughes.

Michael wrote an essay entitled:“Symptom control is a key patientpriority in palliative care”. He wasasked to choose one symptom anddiscuss its prevalence, impact andmanagement with reference to thecurrent evidence base.

The Jagdish Raut Award went toSamantha Craddock as the student inthe second year who has made thegreatest advancement in terms ofacademic studies.

Finally the Arthritis Research UKPrize in Musculoskeletal Medicinewent to Muhammad Islam, Year 4,who wrote an essay entitled: “Theimpact of arthritis in the workplace:what can be done about it?”

The Dean of HYMS, ProfessorTony Kendrick, congratulated all thestudents and wished them well in theircontinuing studies.

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£500 bursaries for electives

Five students (pictured P10 above right) have been awarded £500bursaries by the Hull Medical Society. To earn the award, students had tosubmit an abstract about their planned medical elective in 2010, thenmake a presentation on their return. The students were Simon Stapley,Adam Jakes, Keith Howell, Becky Simpson and Anna Stansfeld.

Year 4 student Naomi Chinn won aspecial commendation after beingshortlisted for the Professor HaroldEllis Students Prize for Surgery2010.This is the first time such acommendation has been awardedand it was created especially forNaomi after she impressed the panelat the Royal College of Surgeons inLondon with the confidence andoriginality of her presentation,‘Which surgical specialty willbecome extinct first and why?’.

Student Rachel Stephenson is topresent her research from herintercalated year spent at theUniversity of York BiologyDepartment at the Medical StudentResearch Conference organised bythe Acorn Foundation.

Wilderness Medicine Society arelooking for professionals withinterests in areas such as altitude ordiving medicine to help with thesociety. Email Contact:[email protected]

HYMS is looking for healthyvolunteers to help with teachingphysical examination to medicalstudents. Please [email protected]

News in brief


widening participation

HYMS team launchesnew strategy

The HYMS Widening Participation Team, led by AssociateDean for Admissions Jane Adam, has published its strategyfor the next three years.

Widening Participation (WP) is undertaken by allmedical schools in the UK in an attempt to ensure doctorsrepresent every sector of the population.

The work done by Jane Adam and WideningParticipation Manager Jo Cross is aimed at students fromless advantaged backgrounds who have an interest inmedicine and the potential to be a doctor.

“Compared with other medical schools, HYMS has anextremely comprehensive strategy, covering every agegroup, using its limited Widening Participation resourcesto best effect,” explained Jane.

“There has been extensive consultation with ourpartner organisations during the creation of this strategy.”

In the next three years the WP team aims to reach asmany people as possible across the HYMS region, in orderto increase the level of knowledge and understandingabout studying medicine across the whole region.

Highlights of the strategy for the next three yearsinclude: Aiming work specifically at parents and teachers,

making the most efficient use of HYMS resources, bydeveloping projects that can become self-sustaining

Developing the Lucy project into a multi-media projectwith help from the e-learning team, so the project canbe used by schools and teachers over the internet aswell as during activity days at HYMS

Working with students from WP backgrounds onwebsite information development to create a new areaof the website that provides the sort of information thatWP applicants have difficulty finding, and addresseslikely fears and uncertainties, such as funding

Supporting a programme of students from the localregion returning to their former schools to talk aboutmedicine and HYMS.

The full strategy can be found at www.hyms.ac.uk

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HYMS Teaching Fellow in Medical Education

Andy Kardasz guides pupils at one of the

Widening Participation events


calendar

4 MaySeminar: Neurasthenia,masculinity and CFS in19th centuryDearne Building, West Campus,University of Hull, 17.15pm-18.15pm

6-8 MayYork Alumni ReunionWeekendFor further information log on to:http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/daro/events/annualreunion.htm

11 MayNorth & east Yorkshire& NorthernLincolnshire (NeYNL)Comprehensive LocalResearch Network(CLRN) Palliative CareSpecialty GroupConferenceRoyal York Hotel, York

14 JulyHYMS graduationUniversity of York followed byreception at Heslington East

Students joinfirst responders

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The HYMS AdmissionsTeam will be hosting theannual one-dayNorthern AdmissionsNetwork of MedicalSchools conference atKings Manor on Friday13th May. This will be anopportunity forcolleagues from otheruniversitites to sayfarewell to AssociateDean for Admissions DrJane Adam, who set upthe network shortlyafter she began workingfor HYMS. This year themeeting will focus onmedical students withmental health problems.

The Wellcome Trust hasrecently awardedfunding (by theallocation of 25studentships over 5years) to support theestablishment of a newfour year PhD trainingprogramme forinterdisciplinarytraining in the area ofinfectious diseaseresearch. This highlyinterdisciplinaryprogramme, which is ajoint initiative of theCentre for Immunologyand Infection and theYork Centre forComplex SystemsAnalysis, will be led and

administered by theUniversity of YorkDepartment of Biology.

HYMS Clinical SkillsLead Anna Hammondhas received a bestposter award at the UKConference“Communication inUndergraduate MedicalEducation” held inManchester. It was co-authored by formerHYMS Lecturer inhealthcarecommunication DrSarah Collins, formerAcademic FY2 Dr KThomas and Professorof Primary andCommunity Care ProfIan Watt. Anna’s rolewithin HYMS has alsochanged. She has beenmade Director ofCommunication SkillsTeaching.

HYMS is hosting anintercalated degreeaway day at BishopBurton on Thursday28th April. Currentstudents intercalatingon the HYMS BSc(Hons) Medical Sciencewill give briefpresentations on theirresearch. Email:[email protected]

News in brief

Yorkshire AmbulanceService NHS Trust hasteamed up with HYMSstudents to train 33students to becomecommunity firstresponders and helppatients in the vitalminutes before anambulance arrives.

They have been trainedin basic life-support,Cardio- PulmonaryResuscitation (CPR) andoxygen therapy and will beequipped with a kit to helppatients suffering from aheart attack, cardiac arrest,collapse or breathingdifficulties.

The students will workas volunteers on a rotasystem from 6pm tomidnight from Monday toFriday and will respond tocalls within a three-mileradius of the universitycampus in CottinghamRoad, west Hull.

They could even becalled upon to respond tocalls on campus ifnecessary.

Paul Stevens, networkresponse manager atYorkshire AmbulanceService, said thepartnership is unique.

“The Hull York MedicalSchool is the first of itskind to have joined ourlife-saving community firstresponder scheme,” hesaid.

“As they already workin partnership with theNHS in the region, we feltit would be beneficial todevelop this relationshipand are delighted to beworking alongside them.

“We know that in manymedical emergencies, thefirst few minutes arecritical and if effectivetreatment can be given topatients within thoseminutes, disability can bereduced and lives can besaved. In Hull and the EastRiding, there are 407community firstresponders.”


postgraduate training

Enhancing teaching

HYMS welcomed its second cohort onto the PostgraduateCertificate in Medical education(PGCMe) at an induction day heldat the National Science Learning Centre in January and threeformer HYMS students are among the group.

It was an opportunity for the PGCMEProgramme Team to meet the 33 newstudents, and for them to meet theirtutors and peer group for the yearahead.By the end of the day participantswere able to:

n Plan the year ahead byincorporating the PGCMEProgramme into an already busyschedule

n Use the VLE at an introductorylevel to plan and organise Module1, and to locate essential PGCMEresources

n Identify their own personal startingpoint by exploring their currentteaching practice, their goals forthe PGCME, and formulate anaction plan for the year ahead

The day was an interesting mix ofpresentations, workshops and groupwork. Professor David Blaney,

Undergraduate Dean of HYMS, gave atalk about Priorities in MedicalEducation. The students were givenan introduction to HYMSpostgraduate study and the PGCMEprogramme itself.

The Dean of HYMS, ProfessorTony Kendrick, gave a talk on thevision and strategy for postgraduatemedical education in HYMS.

Many of the students said howmuch they enjoyed meeting andtalking to others and understandingthe objectives for the year ahead.

The first cohort for the PGCME,which started in January 2010, havesuccessfully completed their studies.

If you are interested in studyingfor the PGCME this year, the deadlinefor applications is 29 July 2011. Formore information or to book a place:

n Tel: 01904 321787

n Email: [email protected]

n www.hyms.ac.uk/postgraduate

Surgical Anatomy,Applied Physiology,Critical Care, AppliedPathology, Radiology andCommunication Skills5-9 September 2011

A five day programme intendedfor candidates preparing for theIntercollegiate MRCS (Part B,OSCE and MCQ) examinationsand covering almost all of theexamination. The course has beendesigned by experiencedexaminers familiar with the newformat of the IntercollegiateMRCS examination. Many of theFaculty will also be experiencedRoyal College of Surgeons ofEngland examiners.For more information please logon to:http://www.hyms.ac.uk/postgraduate/short-courses-cpd.aspx; Tel: 01482 464750/01904 321308Email: [email protected]

GeometricMorphometrics10-13 October 2011

This module aims to providestudents with a firm foundationin the theory and practice ofgeometric morphometrics asapplied to the study ofphenotypic and functionalvariation. This is a HYMS-accredited module bearing 10credits at level 7. This courseruns over an intensive periodcomprising morning lectures andafternoon and early eveningdiscussion and review sessionsover a week. Study packs withpre-reading will be supplied andeach afternoon and eveningadditional review material will bepresented in seminar stylesupported by practical tasks.More information can be foundat:http://sites.google.com/site/hymsfme/gmm-course-2011. Cost: £200 plus VAT (free forHYMS Students).

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Students at the PGCME induction day Photo: Kippa Matthews

Short courses


alumni associationUNIVERSITY NEWS

n Congratulations to Dr MiriamJohnson and Dr Sam Cobb ontheir recent funding awards. DrJohnson, HYMS Reader inPalliative Medicine, has received£230,000 from the NationalInstitute for Health Research’sResearch for Patient Benefitprogramme for a project entitled“A randomised trial of high versuslow intensity training in breathingtechniques for breathlessness inpatients with malignant lungdisease: early intervention”.HYMS Lecturer in Anatomy DrCobb, as co-investigator with acolleague in Bristol, has beenawarded a BBSRC grant totalling£460,000 for a project entitled“The morpho-functional evolutionof bird beaks and skulls”.

n The University of York was namedUniversity of the Year at theTimes Higher Education Awards2010. Judges recognised ouracademic excellence, socialinclusion and impressive trackrecord in scientific discovery.Since the founding of theUniversity in 1963, York haspowered its way to a consistenttop ten ranking in the UK and isone of just six post-waruniversities to appear in theWorld Top 100.

n HYMS is looking for formerstudents who would like to helpshape the future of the HYMSalumni association to get intouch. If you have any ideas abouthow you would like the alumniassociation to operate, what kindof events of activities you wouldlike to see happen or you have anyother good ideas as to how we cantake the HYMS alumni associationforward, we’d be delighted to hearfrom you. Please [email protected]

n York Alumni Reunion Weekendtakes place 6-8 May 2011. Forfurther information log on to:http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/daro/

events/annualreunion.htm

Postgraduate first for Ahmed

HYMS first postgraduate researchstudent to graduate AhmedAburima is pictured with thePostgraduate Centre head SarahElton and Dean of HYMS TonyKendrick. Ahmed was under thesupervision of Professor KhalidNaseem and he conductedresearch into PkA signalling inblood platelets.

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For more information on postgraduate training optionsbeing developed at HYMS,

email [email protected] or visit our website.

Venue: Castle Hill HospitalApproved by the Royal College of Surgeons of England

Course dates: 4 – 6 May 2011 & 16 – 18 November 2011Course fee: £500

This 2 ½ day course is designed to provide an introduction to safe surgicalpractice within a controlled workshop environment. It covers:

n Open surgery

n Wound management

n Electro-surgery

n Endoscopic surgery

Features include:

n Intensive hands-on practice of basic skills

n Individual tuition, with a maximum of 14 participants per course

n Personal feedback on performance, with advice for further practice

n A detailed course manual and course video

For an application form please contact:

Claire Acey, Academic Surgical Unit, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road,Cottingham, HU16 5JQTel: 01482 622393 Fax: 01482 623274 Email: [email protected]

Intercollegiate Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) course


Postgraduate Certificate in Medical EducationOctober 2011 - September 2012

For more information or to book a place contact:n Tel: 01904 321787n Email: [email protected] Web: www.hyms.ac.uk/postgraduate


Documents

Pioneer magazine