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Andrew MacFarlane

Year 2 ScotGEM student with a background as a Pharmacist from the University of Strathclyde. I have completed my Year 2 rotations through Dumfries & Galloway and the Highlands. I am currently back in Fife and will be returning to Dumfries & Galloway for my Emergency block near the end of Year 2!

Dr Roger Strasser and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

In our latest interview, Callum speaks to Dr Roger Strasser, Professor of Rural Health at the University of Waikato in New Zealand and Founding Dean Emeritus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) in Canada. Like ScotGEM, NOSM has a distinct remote & rural focus and the team behind ScotGEM visited NOSM as part of the establishment of our course.

Remote & Rural Medical Education

In this second part of the interview, Robert discusses what things to weigh up if you are thinking of studying or working in a rural environment. He also discusses his role in ScotGEM and his belief in the novel Generalist Clinical Mentor – ‘GCM’ – approach that enlists experienced GPs to mentor groups of students for continued periods of time throughout their medical education.

What Is It Like To Be A Rural Doctor?

Dr Robert Scully is the Lead Generalist Clinical Mentor on ScotGEM and has extensive experience of working rurally as a doctor. After completing his GP training he worked as a Rural Practitioner on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. He sat down (socially distanced) from Year 3 student Andrew and discussed why he joined the ScotGEM programme, why he loves working as a generalist doctor and the things to consider if you are working in a remote and rural community as a medical student, or doctor.

Auchtermuchty – Wear The Fox Hat?

A few weeks after returning from the Christmas and New Year break in 1st year, it came time to mix up the Generalist Clinical Mentor (GCM) groups that I have written about previously here. We all said goodbye to our maiden GCM families and began an 18-week voyage with a new group that would take us to our final destination – the main 1st year exams in June.

Professor Ian Parkin

Year 2 student Molly Jakes sat down with Professor Ian Parkin, one of our anatomy demonstrators from Year 1 who came out of retirement to help deliver our anatomy teaching on ScotGEM. As you will see in the interview (click here to watch), Ian is totally passionate about what he does and this was felt by all in the dissection room whenever he taught us!

Learning in our Medical Families

One of the innovative aspects of ScotGEM – and I think many of the cohort would argue, the best – is the creation of the ‘Generalist Clinical Mentor’ or ‘GCM’ as it is often referred to. The GCM is an experienced GP who works part-time local to the university when they are not working with ScotGEM.

Dr Rob Jarvis

We interviewed Dr Rob Jarvis, the co-lead for Student Support for the ScotGEM programme. We asked him about his background, his role with ScotGEM, and advice for new and existing medical students!

Intubation Guy

One quarter of the way to becoming a doctor, and 6 weeks into the 2nd year of ScotGEM (Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine), I have finished up in Dumfries & Galloway (D&G) and started in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. As with 1st year, I have been based in a local GP practice each week but with the added experience of hospital exposure with a variety of different placements.