News/Events

14 July 2008
There is concern that there will be a shortfall in the number of available and proficient academics to engage with teaching and learning in the University of Sydney Medical Program in the near future. This shortfall may arise because of the number of senior clinicians expected to retire within the next few years, the lack of junior academics and junior clinicians with teaching capacity within the Faculty, and the increasing demand on clinical teachers arising from the recent curriculum review. In particular there is also a noticeable lack of female academics and senior clinicians which needs to be addressed.

The Dean of Medicine has requested a review into the current academic profile of the Faculty and the future capacity within the clinical disciplines and in each clinical school to deliver the new medical curriculum. This review will identify such issues as current and future staffing gaps and requirements, including in the procedural disciplines. It will also provide information to generate recommendations on how we can build future teaching capacity in the Faculty, identify ways to increase the recruitment and up-skilling of junior academics, and improve the support provided to our academic staff.

Data will be collected via a questionnaire and interviews. The questionnaire is designed for academic and volunteer teachers and will record current and potential future clinical teaching activity. Interviews will be conducted with identified participants including the Associate Deans, Heads of Clinical Disciplines, senior staff in the Office of Medical Education, and other faculty including junior staff.

Project Steering committee: Prof Michael Kidd, Prof Ben Freedman, A/Prof Tessa Ho, Prof Louise Baur, and Prof Kathryn North
Project team: A/Prof Chris Roberts, A/Prof Jill Thistlethwaite, and Koshila Kumar from the Office of Postgraduate Medical Education
Project duration: May – Nov 2008

If you wish to find out more about please contact or

15 April 2008
This was the second in our series of one-day colloquia on topics of interest to health professional educators. Facilitated by our 2008 international visiting research fellow, Dr Lynn Knight (Senior Lecturer and Director of Medical Education Research, Division of Medical Education, Cardiff University, UK) and Charlotte Rees (Associate Professor and Director of Educational Research, OPME), this colloquium focused on the importance of marrying theory, methods and practice in health professional education research. With an audience of over 40 local, interstate and international visitors, with a diverse background and mixed range of experience in qualitative research, the day aimed to be interactive, stimulating and an opportunity for all to network. More »

1 April 2008
The Faculty of Medicine has recognised how important it is to be well represented in the reforms that are sweeping both prevocational and vocational Postgraduate training. We are pleased to announce the formation of the Office of Postgraduate Medical Education (OPME).
More »

3 December 2007
This was the first in what will be a series of one day seminars on educational topics of interest to all health professional educators. We couldn’t have started with a better title. Everyone is talking about professionalism, professional behaviour and professional development. Into this mix was added peer and self assessment, developments in research, the value of entry point interviews, portfolios and patient safety. An audience of 40, local and interstate visitors, added their thoughts and reflections, complementing the speakers and adding value to the workshop discussions.More »

3 December 2007
The 4th Ed Health Conference for the combined Faculties of Health at The University of Sydney was held in Terrigal on the 15th and 16th November. Five Faculties are involved in the conference, which is held bi-annually, and consist of Medicine, Nursing & Midwifery, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Health Sciences. OPME is celebrating a number of successes, both from the event coordination aspect as well as recognition of excellence in abstracts and presentations. More »