The curriculum for specialist training in family medicine : quo vadis?

Abstract

In Malta, Specialist Training in Family Medicine was launched on the 9th July 2007 with the first 11 trainees. It was the first training programme to be launched locally from amongst other medical specialties. The Specialist Training Programme in Family Medicine document that was approved by the Specialist accreditation Committee (SAC) on 9th November 2006 contains many elements of a curriculum (and a sound foundation for it) but lacks details about certain aspects, e.g. content and its organization; teaching resources and strategies. Regrettably, a curriculum was not available to guide this training programme at its outset. To redress this situation, the MCFD set up a Curriculum Board in May 2008. The Curriculum Board was requested to carry out a Needs Assessment and design a Curriculum that would provide a detailed framework for the Specialist 1Taining Programme in Family Medicine. The Curriculum was to guide the first cohort of trainees, who would sit for their summative examination at the end ofthe3 year programme inJuly 2010. Projected time frames for finalising the curriculum targeted May 2010 as its completion date. At the same time, the MCFD also set up an Assessment Board to develop a Summative Assessment for this cohort of trainees. The Curriculum Board was made up of the two authors as members.