Training and development (General Internal Medicine)
This page provides useful information on the training and development for this specialty and also has tips for people at all stages of their training including medical school.
The specialty is well suited to flexible training and working patterns. A significant proportion of trainees are training less than full time.
You will need to complete core training after your two-year foundation programme. Core training has a choice of two pathways:
internal medicine stage 1, which is a two to three-year programme. Trainees may join after year 2 if they have full MRCP Diploma
acute care common stem – ACCS (acute medicine), which is a four-year programme. Trainees may join after year 3 if they have full MRCP Diploma
Trainees can enter specialty training in GIM at ST3 level. Training takes a minimum of three years (ST3-5).
Applicants for specialty training at ST3 should hold the full MRCP (UK). Not all applicants who meet the required standard to continue will necessarily be offered a post due to the level of competition.
Trainees who wish to achieve a CCT in both GIM and another specialty must have applied for and successfully entered a training programme which was advertised openly as a dual training programme. On successfully completing the training programme and evidencing the competencies in the relevant GMC approved curricula, the trainee will achieve two CCTs, one in GIM and one in another medical specialty.
It is important to develop your practical skills and interest in general internal medicine as early as you can. This will also give you valuable experience to add to your CV.
Whether you're a medical student, foundation trainee or doing your core specialty training, there's information below to help you.
Medical students
take opportunities in medical training to visit acute medical units and find out about this specialty
join your university medical society
attend conferences for medical students – this will give you an opportunity to network and meet your future colleagues
get involved with the GMC (General Medical Council), eg medical students can participate in visits to medical schools as part of the GMC’s quality assurance process
consider becoming a student member of the BMA (the British Medical Association is the trade union and professional association for doctors and provides careers advice)
make your specialty decisions in good time so that you can test it out before committing yourself, eg by using hospital visits and clinical placements arranged as part of your course to ask questions and observe people at work
choose the topic of your supervised research project carefully to test out your thinking
Foundation trainees
remember your first priority is to demonstrate that you have developed the personal, learning, clinical, practical and management skills needed by all doctors
talk to your clinical and educational supervisors about particular areas of interest to explore
use full placements to experience specialties that you might be interested in or apply for taster experiences if you can’t get a placement
talk with your peers about their career ideas and experiences – you may be able to help each other
listen to information and advice from more experienced doctors but make your own decisions
taking part in a clinical audit or a quality improvement project is important for your development as a doctor but you may be able to choose a project related to a specialty that interests you
ensure your foundation e-portfolio has plenty of medical evidence and that this is kept properly up-to-date
try to gain teaching and management experience
look at competition ratios (ie the number of applicants to places) critically. Find out what is happening this year and spot any regional differences in competition ratios
write case reports or make presentations with a GIM focus
Core and specialty trainees
ensure a good grounding in acute general medicine
speak to consultants about what the role is like
read as much information as you can on the websites of relevant professional bodies
impress interviewers by showing that your interest in the specialty is intrinsically motivated, ie you are drawn to the work and not just attracted by admiration of someone you have shadowed (You will also be happier in your career in that specialty many years later!)
be prepared to move to where the vacancies are
continue to develop your practical and academic expertise
undertake a research project
try to get some of your work published and present at national and international meetings
join or start a Journal Club (a group who meet to critically evaluate academic research)
teach junior colleagues
take on any management opportunities you are offered
