Training Programme Director
Dr Jim Kerss
Email: sportsmedicine@nwsem.co.uk
Training Committee Postgraduate Doctor in Training Representative
Dr Ik Ogbonmwan
Email: ik.ogbonmwan@doctors.org.uk
North West Sport and Exercise Medicine Training Programme
Sport & Exercise Medicine (SEM) is a GMC approved medical specialty with a dedicated NHS higher training scheme. It is a relatively new, exciting, and rapidly developing area of medicine - with formal GMC recognition granted in 2006 and over 140 consultants currently on the GMC register. SEM Consultants are currently employed by 19 NHS trusts in the UK which is anticipated to grow as knowledge and understanding of the specialty increases. As the speciality grows there continues to be increasing evidence that shows the impact SEM consultants can have leading Musculoskeletal services on improving patient experience.
In 2021 the curriculum was re-written with a renewed focus for Sport and Exercise Medicine postgraduate training to produce doctors who can deliver comprehensive Musculoskeletal services in primary and secondary care and who have the knowledge and understanding for practical application of Exercise Medicine in chronic disease management and prevention at an individual and population level. The training programme is quite unique in that trainees may come from a GP, ACCS or IMT background and as such the training can offer individual flexibility depending on the doctor’s previous skill set. There is no point of entry from surgical training.
Training takes place in a range of placements across the spectrum of the speciality; this includes Public Health, General Practice, Musculoskeletal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Pain Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine and other speciality services. There is also the unique opportunity at latter stages of the training programme to work and learn within the elite sport environment, although this focus on elite sport exposure has reduced considerably with the development of the new curriculum.
The training programme will provide opportunity for Postgraduate Doctors in Training to complete all the Speciality Specific Competencies which are outlined in the JRCPTB curriculum (see link below) and there is also supported opportunity to gain experience and formal qualification in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and to work in the Military Rehabilitation service at Stamford Hall.
In the North West, Postgraduate Doctors in Training can choose from two options for the training scheme either Liverpool or Manchester, although often these are mixed and blended through the scheme depending on individual development needs, placement availability and geographical location of the doctor in training. It should be expected that doctors in training will be flexible to commute to relevant placements that will enable them to gain the required experience to meet the curriculum requirements.
Liverpool Sport and Exercise Medicine examples of placements:
General Practice; Public Health at Liverpool City Council; Emergency Medicine, Orthopaedics, Pain medicine, Rehabilitation medicine & Rheumatology via Liverpool University Hospitals NHS foundation trust; Joint Health Service at Ormskirk Hospital; Liverpool Football Club; Neurosurgery at The Walton Centre.
Manchester Sport and Exercise Medicine examples of placements:
General Practice; Public Health at Manchester City Council; Emergency Medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Salford Royal NHS foundation trust; Orthopaedics at Wrightington Hospital; Musculoskeletal Medicine at Withington Community Hospital; Pain Medicine; Manchester City Football Club; English Institute of Sport; Manchester Institute of Health and Performance.
Useful links:
JRCPTB information page Sport & Exercise Medicine
https://www.jrcptb.org.uk/specialties/sport-and-exercise-medicine
Sport & Exercise Medicine 2021 Curriculum https://www.jrcptb.org.uk/sites/default/files/Sport%20and%20Exercise%20Medicine%202021%20Curriculum%20FINAL%20EB.pdf
British Association of Sport & Exercise Medicine: https://basem.co.uk
Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine https://www.fsem.ac.uk/
Moving Medicine: https://movingmedicine.ac.uk