Intercalating in Medical Education; is it more valuable than other Intercalated Degrees?

Aim: This study aimed to identify whether an intercalated BSc (iBSc) in Medical Education offers long-term career benefits beyond that of traditional iBScs by exploring candidates’ retrospective perceptions. Method: A small-scale study was conducted with doctors who had completed an iBSc at Barts and the London SMD. A mixed methods approach was adopted using a questionnaire (21), and semi-structured interviews (4) to further explore respondent’s perceptions. Results: All iBScs highlight similar curriculum outcomes in terms of research skill development and offer additional points at foundationand specialty training applications. Medical Education respondents reported additional parallel benefits such as teaching alongside research activity, with a greater numbers of outputs e.g. presentations, publications. Understanding educational theory, developing teaching skills and portfolio creation were identified by the Medical Education group as particularly valuable to career progression. Additionally, Medical Educational iBSc candidates felt the course would offer ubiquitous value in the core medical curriculum, with those completing traditional ‘lab based’ iBScs feeling that no aspect of their intercalation had such generic value, and should remain a separate, optional educational intervention. Conclusion: Considering the increasing emphasis on education and teaching in medicine, this study suggests Medical Education offers greater benefit to candidates in the long-term. It follows that incorporation of this in the core medical curriculum would offer value to all candidates.