A team made up of representatives from the Royal College of Physicians of London (RCP), the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) is in Mandalay, Burma/Myanmar, this week to deliver two intensive clinical and communication skills courses aimed at supporting Burmese trainees preparing to take the MRCP(UK) PACES exam.
The 2-day courses, taking pace at Mandalay General Hospital (MGH), are a collaboration with the University of Medicine, Mandalay, with the university’s prorector, Professor Aye Aye Chit, leading the local team.
In addition to the clinical and communication courses, the team is delivering a series of well-attended CME sessions at MGH, including a presentation on ‘Disorders of consciousness and brain death’ from RCP associate international director Dr Peter Newman and a session entitled ‘How to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease’ from RCPE international director Professor Sunil Bhandari.
The first day of the courses focuses on communication skills, starting with a plenary session and demonstrations led by the RCP's Dr Russell Roberts, followed by a series of communications scenarios of increasing complexity. On the second day, candidates rotate around several clinical stations and finish with a communication and ethics scenario.
PACES timing is being used, with candidates receiving feedback from UK and local faculty at the end of each station.
This is the first time the three colleges have delivered courses in Burma/Myanmar’s second largest city, following successful courses in Yangon.