In the development and delivery of our LIC, we are keenly interested in exploring how such a medical education model can enhance patient-centred care, provide a richer clinical placement experience and help generate interest in working in under-doctored areas. Alongside the delivery of the LIC pilot, we have some active research themes exploring these aspects.
I was very pleased to attend the Consortium of Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (CLIC) Conference 2019, hosted by the University of British Columbia in Canada. CLIC is a worldwide network of medical schools who are either planning or delivering LICs in a variety of different forms. Some of these have been running for more than 15 years.
An LIC in Yorkshire
It was a fascinating conference and I was pleased to share a poster about the Hull York Medical School LIC, which we believe is the first ‘immersed dispersed’ LIC in England.
It was great to share ideas with colleagues from across the world as well as hearing more about the increasing body of evidence demonstrating the potential benefits of LICs as well as tips on how to avoid some of the pitfalls.
Several UK medical schools were represented including Dundee, Cardiff and Imperial who have also now established LICs.
It was also brilliant to see many LIC students (past and present) at the conference, many of whom had undertaken LIC-related research as part of their studies; hopefully we’ll be able to have some Hull York Medical School students representing us at future events! There is a student arm of CLIC – SLICC – hoping to encourage some of our own pioneering LIC students to get involved with this too.
And coming across Vancouver’s founding father… from Hull!
Also managed to squeeze in some sight-seeing; pleased to see that one of the founding fathers of Vancouver ‘Gassy Jack’ was born in Hull! It must be something about Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire that brings out a pioneering spirit!
Next month, Hull York Medical School will welcome Professor David Hirsch for a visit, organised by our Health Professions Education Unit. Based at Harvard University, he helped to establish the LIC model and will deliver a seminar and host a discussion. There’ll be lots from this, combined with my Vancouver experience, that we can take forward in the further development of our LIC.