Combined PhD/Fellowship Program Launch

Professor Bruce Robinson and the candidates

Wednesday 16th March saw the Dean, Professor Bruce Robinson, launch the Sydney Medical School Combined PhD/Fellowship Training Program. The program has been designed to encourage and support trainees who have a strong interest in both clinical research and practice. To be known as “Dean’s Fellows “, candidates will benefit from both the skills and expertise of leading clinicians, and the knowledge and experience of career academics who will support the candidates academic development.

Held in the Anderson Stuart Courtyard, the launch introduced the first three candidates, Dr Philip Tong (Dermatology), Dr Helen Gibbons (Pathology) and Dr Puma Sundaresan (Radiation Oncology) to relevant Sydney Medical School academics and key office holders from the Australian College of Dermatologists, the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (Faculty of Radiation Oncology).

Coordinated for Sydney Medical School by the Workforce Education and Development Group, partnerships have been established with each of these colleges to establish this program and foster the development of future clinical academics. Negotiations are in progress with a number of other colleges to develop similar programs in 2012.