The impact of structured training on academic medicine in the UK

Introduction of structured training has been a recent event. The programmes have been modelled on curricula produced by the medical royal colleges. Regular assessment throughout the training has helped to achieve the designed goals. This reform encourages research for up to 1 year. However, the research year would not be funded by the normal National Health Service channels. The period of research can be extended by a year without losing the national training number. If the specialist registrars take this towards the end of year 4 then they can continue in research and acquire the certificate of 'Completion of Specialist Training' yet continue with the research for a degree by thesis. Clinical competence needs new ways of measurement without adhering to time periods of training. This will enable clinicians not to turn away from academic medicine because of longer periods of training needed prior to being appointed to a substantive academic post, compared with a colleague who is pursuing a clinical career.